Systems Integration - Create
Learning opportunity
For this assignment, we were asked to propose an integrated set of systems to organize a collection of resources. Our system must include classification, controlled vocabulary, content standard, and data format–all the organizing systems we touched on in our class. The proposed system can be an improvement to an existing system or a completely new one. Our reports should provide the reader with a sense of how records will be created with all the integrated systems at play. I chose to propose a new organizing system for the Queer Reads Library (QRL) collection.
First attempt
Peer review feedback
In summary, the feedback I received from my peers about my suggested improvements to QRL’s organizing system is as follows:
Content schema is detailed with clear instructions which makes it friendly for less experienced volunteers creating records
Volunteer-labour required and unique aspects of the collection have been well-considered
Great idea to supplement Anchor Archive’s Zine Subject Thesaurus with Homosaurus for subject headings
Questions:
Do you envision a situation where a zine may fall into multiple types?
Do you think using YAML or JSON would be less intimidating for cataloguers as opposed to XML?
How would you evaluate the options for bibliographic management software for QRL? What are your ideal features?
How can QRL be classified with a faceted system based on theme/subject matter rather than publishing processes? How might this aid users in their search of the collection?
Is the material in the collection all physical or can some of it be accessed digitally?
Do volunteers need to be physically present with the collection in Hong Kong or Vancouver to be able to catalogue it?
Given the cross-continental nature of QRL, would there be a centralized digital information point that can be accessible for all volunteers across the globe?
Revisions
Given more time, I would think through the entire process for cataloguing QRL and what documentation would be important to facilitate consistent record creation. Consideration would be given to not only the management software and content standard, but also volunteer training, record verification, and support documentation. Since our collection is entirely physical, with some zines available online through the platforms of individual creators, volunteer-run catalogue will need to take place in-person in our respective cities, with some kind of tracking system to avoid duplicate record creation. I would also like to invest more time into cataloguing a multi-lingual collection, especially when it comes to creating a thesaurus that is comprehensive but still searchable. Through the years, QRL has facilitated multiple queer lexicon workshops to better understand the terms our communities are using. It would be beneficial to incorporate the findings from these workshops into the creation of a bespoke subject thesaurus for the collection. Lastly, I would like to spend more time exploring potential data formats, integrated library systems, and collection management software that would be well-suited for managing QRL.
Reflection
This assignment was a wonderful opportunity for me to reconsider the existing organizing system of QRL. My stewardship of QRL is a primary reason for my interest in libraries and printed matter, more broadly. The current spreadsheet organizing system was proposed by me prior to having an extensive grasp of knowledge organizing systems, but I am proud of what I could create at the time. It feels full circle to be able to apply the knowledge I have gained from this course to the project that inspired me to pursue my MLIS in the first place. As a cross-continental, grassroots collection, QRL presents unique opportunities for implementing an organizing system that is considerate of the sociopolitical and cultural contexts of the collection and its users. Throughout the course, I noticed one of the fundamental flaws of the organizing systems we explored is their Euro-centricity and colonial logic. Proposing an organizing system for QRL allowed me to consider doing things differently, now that I have a better understanding of the “rules” of knowledge organizing. I am excited to further explore this topic through a dedicated research project in my MLIS program.