Cataloging e-book vendor records: University of Illinois case study

Cataloging Ebooks and Vendor Records

Cataloging E-books and Vendor Records

Martin, E.K., & Mundle Kavita. (2010). Notes on operations cataloging E-books and vendor records: A case study at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Library Resources & Technical Services, 54 (4):227-237.

Martin & Mundle assert that e-books have increasingly become a vital portion of scores of academic library collections. Catalog records on the other hand are essential as they promote discovery of e-books. However, cataloging individual e-books entails an intricate activity particularly when huge packages are bought (Martin & Mundle, 2010). In this regard, most libraries depend on external sources for e-book catalog records. Such sources come from services of third-party record or from vendors. According to Martin & Mundle (2010), most libraries opt to handle records in batch as a means of offering access to huge sets. Notwithstanding the practicability of using records in batch, there are several challenges linked to this method of cataloging e-books. Through a case study approach with qualitative analysis, the article investigates the problems of controlling MARC (Machine-Readable Cataloging) records for University of Illinois's Springer e-book collection. Besides challenges in management of MARC, the authors highlight the methods and tools needed to enhance quality of record in consortial setting operation (Martin & Mundle, 2010). More so, the article underscores the constant challenges faced while handling vendor records besides providing key steps that are essential in expediting the procedure of cataloging vendor records. The authors underlined various issues encountered while cataloging e-books and vendor records. The issues are highlighted in three major categories which include load issues, access issues and record-quality issues.

Critical Analysis

The Research Problem

The introductory part of the article synthesizes literature from the previous studies. This activity helped the researchers in coming up with logical and relevant research topic. A considerable number of articles, journals, library databases besides situation standards have been used in the search for the research topic. The authors consulted an extensive body of literature that helped them in ascertaining the gaps in literature. The research problem is well defined and sufficiently rooted to the existing literature. The objective of the research which was to explore the challenges of controlling Machine-Readable Cataloging is well stated in the introductory section (Martin & Mundle, 2010). The reader is introduced to the research problem in the introductory part of the article.

The authors confirm that most libraries continue to raise acquisition of e-books. They cited a survey carried out on 552 libraries around the world. The survey indicated that 88% of participants subscribed or owned e-books. Forty five percent of the libraries surveyed indicated that they offered access to over 10,000 e-books (Martin & Mundle, 2010). In this view, putting together records for e-books into catalog is a crucial aspect that aids facilitation of access and retrieval of the developing resources set. Since vendors started providing MARC records for collections of e-books as part of subscription contracts, most libraries add them to their catalogs through batch loads. This undemanding procedure has introduced new challenges for catalogers with regard to load itself, consortial record sharing, access issues and more importantly completeness and quality of the content of record. However, to handle the challenges facing catalogers while cataloging e-books, batch vendors records is an convenient solution for those libraries wishing to offer timely catalog admittance to e-book collections (Martin & Mundle, 2010).

Notably, University of Illinois at Chicago embraced batch loading vendor-supplied MARC records for different e-books collections in its UICCAT catalog (Martin & Mundle, 2010). The University had from 2006 loaded over 250, 000 vendor-supplied e-book records in its library catalog. This created a lot of challenges given the different quality of various record sets of vendors. Based on literature review, the research problem is well defined and sufficiently founded on the available literature relating to UIC library catalog department and other sources. However, there are no stated research questions and hypotheses.

Conclusion

Martin & Mundle (2010) employed a feasible research design pertinent to the research problem. A case study approach with qualitative analysis is appropriate for investigating the research problem. Secondary data collection method was involved where data was gathered from articles, UIC databases and journals. This procedure of data collection offers no room for sampling procedure as they are no live samples involved. While secondary data collection method offers reasonable conclusions, the researchers are tasked with much work in checking for credibility of sources and relevancy of information contained in their elected literature sources. While this method may yield coherent results, it is always advisable to evaluate credibility and relevancy of secondary data in order to ensure that it matches a specific issue or topic. As such validity and reliability test may be done through retest technique where the research topic can be tested through alternative data collection technique such as primary data collection method after a period to confirm whether the same results will be achieved. Nevertheless, secondary data collection method saves time, as it is easy to access. Secondary data are also cost effective given that it requires low cost to obtain data. Moreover, the case study approach with qualitative analysis is pertinent to the research problem.