Building a

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Building a Virtual Library Collection through
freely-accessible web sites Select Web Sites
database at University of Vermont

• Wichada SuKantarat
• A presentation
• at a Poster Session
• The 11th OLAC Biennial Conference
• Montreal, Canada
• 2004

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Abstract
The recent increase of freely-accessible web
sites on the World Wide Web can change the nature
of library collections and services. Within this
rapidly changing environment, libraries should
take advantage of valuable information that is
freely available on the Internet. Creating a
virtual collection requires a well-planned
collaboration of librarians in Cataloging,
Collection Development, Reference and Systems. In
addition, current collection development policies
will need expansion to reflect the nature of a
virtual collection. A systematic review and
maintenance, which includes de-selection of
freely-available resources, is also an essential
component of this type of collection. It is also
useful to consider the cost versus the benefit to
a library. What is the relative cost to the
libraries to create this virtual collection? And
how much would users benefit from bibliographic
descriptions of selected web resources? At the
University of Vermont, a decision was made to
build bibliographic descriptions by adding
subject index termsuncontrolled (Field 653),
because it provides more access to these
resources. UVMs experience found that access to
these web resources through the existing online
catalog was the most efficient delivery method.
This poster presentation will share with the
audience how the Select Web Sites database at
University of Vermont was created. It outlines
workflow procedures, the approaches taken to
resolve issues and problems, and the benefits to
teaching and learning supports in the campus
community. Most importantly, it sets as a
challenge to other librarians, the creation of
Virtual Library Collections databases for
library users.
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Set up Goals

• A well-planned collaboration of librarians in
  Cataloging, Collection Development, Reference and
  Systems is necessary.
• Current collection development policies will need
  expansion to reflect the nature of a virtual
  collection.
• Keep Electronic Collection Development Policy
  selection and criteria up-to-date.
• Devise a well-organized plan for electronic
  resources workflow.
• Put in place systematic review and maintenance
  processes, which should include de-selection of
  freely-available resources.
• Arrange support from Library Administration
  Systems Dept.
• The most viable project will be in support of
  university curricula and programs.
• Build structures that will ensure a long term
  on-going commitment.

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Considerations!

• Cost versus the benefit to a library?
• What is the relative cost to the libraries to
  create this virtual collection?
• How much would users benefit from bibliographic
  descriptions of selected web resources?
• How to organize /merge freely-accessible web
  sites into library collection and display in the
  public?
• Have enough staff to select, de-select, catalog,
  and maintain the database?
• How well patrons access the virtual collection?
• Get feedback from the public (Faculty, staff and
  students).

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Voyager is the database of materials acquired or
licensed by the Libraries. We considered creating
either an external Voyager database or a separate
database (non-Voyager database) to catalog web
resources and to manage specialized finding aids.
The Decision made at UVM

• We also considered using Z39.50 to present a
  meta search interface to the public which would
  include one or more separate databases of web
  resources. The databases of web resources could
  have been maintained locally or they could have
  been a consortium effort such as OCLCs CORC
  database.

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Geology Museum Digital Archive
OPAC
ArcCat
Select Web Sites
Voyager
Vermont Newspapers
Special Collections catalog
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http//libwebdb.uvm.edu/Select Web Sites
databaseUniversity of Vermont
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(No Transcript)
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Cataloging Strategy
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High Quality Database

• Low Maintenance

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Cataloging Policy for Freely-accessible web sites

• Create local provisional records when no record
  found in OCLC
• Provide more access points as needed
• Input Field 653 for additional subjects (more
  access subject or keyword search)
• Keep URLs up-to-date
• Keep subject areas balanced in Virtual database
  by assigning a classification scheme in the call
  number (i.e., Internet (HQ), Internet (HV)).

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Cataloging workflow
Select (Criteria based on Collection Development Policy) Check/ Verify links Catalog (download records from OCLC, create local provisional records)
Modify (add more access points, keep subject areas balanced in the Select Web sites database by assigning a classification scheme in the call number (i.e., Internet (HQ)) Add Field 653 (Subject Index Term) Maintenance (using Linkbot software to generate reports on URL dead links twice a month)
Corrections (changes--title, URL, etc.) De-select (keep up-to-date) Add more web sites
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UVM Libraries Link Reports

• Using Linkbot software to generate reports twice
  a month

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Issues

• Time consuming!
• A long-term on-going task!
• Need a strong cooperation and commitment within
  the library organization to build up a virtual
  collection.
• A separate database could be hidden on the
  Library Home Page away from the public.
• Interdisciplinary subject areas!
• Cataloging Home Page and Title Web Page?

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Future

• Be able to use Dublin Core metadata instead of
  MARC format.
• Be able to display URLs in the OPAC Search
  Results
• To share valuable Vermont information/collection
  (s) in the Select Web Sites database with other
  libraries.
• Be able to find and gather freely-accessible web
  sites more effectively.
• To assess use of virtual collection versus main
  library collection (Online catalog owned
  materials)
• Exclude multiple holdings, e-journals!

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Librarians Index to the Internet
SOURCES
Vermont web sites
Canadian web sites
ALA/RUSA/MARSBest of Free Reference Web Sites
Requests (from Library faculty staff)
Currently 2,000web sites
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Wichada SuKantaratwichada.sukantarat_at_uvm.edu

• Authorities, Media Electronic Resource
  Coordinator
• Library Assistant Professor
• Bailey/Howe Library
• University of Vermont
• Burlington, Vermont 05405