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 deselection 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 terms—uncontrolled (Field
653), because it provides more access to these resources. UVM’s 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
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Library Collections” databases for library users.
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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The Decision made at UVM
•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.
•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 OCLC’s CORC
database.
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OPAC
ArcCat
Geology
Museum
Digital
Archive
Voyager
Vermont
Newspapers
Select
Web
Sites
Special
Collections
catalog
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http://libwebdb.uvm.edu/
Select Web Sites database
University of Vermont
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Cataloging Strategy
Access
SEARCH
Maintenance
Keyword
(Subject, title, etc.)
URLs
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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)
Modify
Check/
Verify links
Catalog
(download records
from OCLC, create
local provisional
records)
*Add Field 653 Maintenance
(add more access points, (Subject Index Term) (using Linkbot
keep subject areas
software to
balanced in the Select
generate reports on
Web sites database by
URL dead links
assigning a classification
twice a month)
scheme in the call
number (i.e., Internet
(HQ))
Corrections
De-select
(changes--title, URL,
etc.)
(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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Librarian’s Index to the Internet
SOURCES
Vermont web sites
Canadian web sites
ALA/RUSA/MARS—Best of Free Reference Web Sites
Requests (from Library faculty & staff)
Currently
2,000+web sites
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Wichada SuKantarat
wichada.sukantarat@uvm.edu
Authorities, Media & Electronic Resource Coordinator
Library Assistant Professor
Bailey/Howe Library
University of Vermont
Burlington, Vermont 05405
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