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Backstage - Phase 2 Authorities Update - 3/20
by Nate Cothran 20 Mar '13

20 Mar '13

Here is another update on the number of RDA authorities received from the Phase 2 distribution: NAF = 159,920 total authorities; 147,431 had 040 $e rda - (92%) Total RDA authorities for Phase 2 (so far): 210,042 name authorities Nate Cothran Vice President, Automation Services 25 East 1700 South Provo, Utah 84606 Phone: +1.800.288.1265, ext. 697 Direct: +1.801.342.5697 nate(a)bslw.com <mailto:nate@bslw.com?subject=Automation%20Services%20-%20Inquiry> * www.bslw.com <http://www.bslw.com>

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Backstage - Phase 2 Authorities Update - 3/13
by Nate Cothran 13 Mar '13

13 Mar '13

We just wanted to briefly notify you of the number of authorities received this week now that Phase 2 is officially underway at Library of Congress: NAF = 69,099 total authorities; 62,611 had 040 $e rda - Our thought is that the 6,488 non-rda name authorities may have come from catalogers still doing AACR2 cataloging, rather than from the machine processing that Phase 2 is addressing. SAF = no RDA updates (which is expected) Nate Cothran Vice President, Automation Services 25 East 1700 South Provo, Utah 84606 Phone: +1.800.288.1265, ext. 697 Direct: +1.801.342.5697 nate(a)bslw.com <mailto:nate@bslw.com?subject=Automation%20Services%20-%20Inquiry> * www.bslw.com <http://www.bslw.com>

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Change from LCSH "violoncello" to "cello" in LCSH
by Nate Cothran 22 Feb '13

22 Feb '13

This was originally posted to PCCLIST and we wanted to pass it along here as well. Apologies for the duplication. *************************************************************** The Policy and Standards Division of the Library of Congress will revise approximately 800 subject headings that include the words violoncello for this instrument, and derivative headings (e.g., violoncellists) to cello. These changes reflect the preference in RDA: Resource Description and Access for the word cello and will be made roughly concurrent with the PCC Phase 2 updates to the LC/NAF. Several proposals will appear as examples on Tentative Subject List 03 for March 2013, but owing to the large number of records to be updated, most of the revisions will occur offlist. LCSH headings involved include: Violoncello Violoncello makers Violoncellists headings with the medium of performance terms "violoncello" or "violoncellos" authority records with the medium of performance terms "violoncello" or "violoncellos" in a note Once the subject heading authority records are changed, the Policy and Standards Division will revise subject headings on bibliographic records in the Library of Congress database, including headings for which no authority record is necessary. Geraldine Ostrove Policy and Standards Division Library of Congress *************************************************************** Nate Cothran Vice President, Automation Services 533 East 1860 South Provo, Utah 84606 Phone: +1.800.288.1265, ext. 697 Direct: +1.801.342.5697 nate(a)bslw.com <mailto:nate@bslw.com?subject=Automation%20Services%20-%20Inquiry> * www.bslw.com <http://www.bslw.com>

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Backstage - Moving Locations
by Nate Cothran 21 Feb '13

21 Feb '13

We wanted to let you know that we are moving office locations this weekend. We have tried to schedule the move so as to disrupt services for the least amount of time, but our servers will be offline this coming weekend. Our servers will be shut down at 6pm ET this Friday, 2/22. We anticipate being back online this coming Monday, 2/25. So if you were planning on sending us a file during that time period, please consider holding off until next week instead. We have notified our weekly clients of this impending shut-off and also wanted to send out a general announcement via this listserv. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you and your staff. And we look forward to being back online next Monday. Our new address will be: 25 E 1700 S, Provo UT, 84606 Nate Cothran Vice President, Automation Services 533 East 1860 South Provo, Utah 84606 Phone: +1.800.288.1265, ext. 697 Direct: +1.801.342.5697 nate(a)bslw.com <mailto:nate@bslw.com?subject=Automation%20Services%20-%20Inquiry> * www.bslw.com <http://www.bslw.com>

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Important Announcement about Library of Congress Phase 2 authorities about to begin releasing
by Judy Archer 15 Feb '13

15 Feb '13

** IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT ** Per the following message from the Library of Congress, Phase 2 authority updates will begin releasing on March 4, 2013. They will release 30,000 updated authorities per day, 5 days a week, until the 370,000-400,000 records have been distributed. We wanted to alert you to this upcoming event so you could prepare in advance (if needed) for potentially larger than usual record loading and indexing. Backstage will be delivering all updates. Though you will only need to receive updated authorities that match those in your individual Backstage Authority Master, there is still the potential for a large impact. Many institutions may be thinking that they don't have to start worrying about RDA until April, but because of Phase 2 the impact will be sooner than that. If you can only load or index at night or on weekends, you may need to make plans for this. If there are any special arrangements you would like to make with us (smaller/larger file sizes, dividing your authorities up into different group types, different delivery schedules, etc.) we would be very happy to work with you. Please contact your Backstage Project Manager if you do. Best regards, Your Backstage Authority Control Team !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS: Forwarded in behalf of Ana Lupe Cristán. This message may be forwarded to other discussion lists - apologies for the duplication. ********************************************** The PCC Acceptable Headings Implementation Task Group (PCCAHITG) has finished testing the Phase 2 changes to the LC/NACO Authority File in the context of the adoption of RDA. This message is intended as a notification that the Phase 2 changes are currently targeted to begin no earlier than March 4th, 2013.* The testing has identified nearly 400,000 name authority records that are candidates for change. As with the Phase 1 changes completed in the summer of 2012 (see http://www.loc.gov/cds/notices/120717.pdf <http://www.loc.gov/cds/notices/120717.pdf> ), the records will be adjusted in the LC database and distributed to the NACO nodes and other CDS customers. LC will update 30,000 records per day, Monday thru Friday, until the changes are completed (the final day of changes distributed may be less than 30,000). These updated records are in addition to the regular distribution of LC/NACO transactions. As a reminder, the Phase Two changes will consist of the actual programmatic changes to the 1XX headings that are not acceptable under RDA (e.g., changes to Bible headings, spelling out Dept. and months, etc., in the subfield $d for personal names). A document: Summary of Programmatic Changes to the LC/NACO Authority File is available at: http://www.loc.gov/aba/rda/pdf/lcnaf_rdaphase.pdf <http://www.loc.gov/aba/rda/pdf/lcnaf_rdaphase.pdf> Please be aware that although the programming was very successful, a handful of anomalies was observed, mainly because there are NARs that contain irregular data elements to begin with (the logic assumes good data and does what it can when confronted with anomalies); you may report unexpected anomalies in NARs to policy(a)loc.gov <mailto:policy@loc.gov> for correction. Once Phase 2 is completed PSD will undertake a project to programmatically synchronize the access points in LC's bibliographic records with those changed in the LC/NAF. In the interim please do not send reports for bibliographic file maintenance. LC and PCC would like to thank everyone that helped with the programming and testing: Gary Strawn (Northwestern University), Vicki Brueck (State Library of North Carolina), Ryan Finnerty (University of California-San Diego), Miloche Kottman (University of Kansas), Nancy Lorimer (Stanford University), Jenifer K. Marquardt (University of Georgia, Athens), Mary Mastraccio (MARCIVE), Robert Maxwell (Brigham Young University), Jeremy Myntti (University of Utah), Nancy Sack (University of Hawaii-Manoa), Helen Schmierer (retired), Pat Williams (University of Chicago), Jia Xu (University of Iowa), and a special valentine to Karen Anderson (Backstage Library Works), who coordinated the test by providing guidance to testers and fielding their questions. That cooperative spirit still sparks. *(the current uncertain federal budget situation may require postponement or adjustment of the projected schedule. We will send out a notice with specific details if this becomes necessary)

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Backstage - Near Match Report in XLS Format (update)
by Nate Cothran 01 Feb '13

01 Feb '13

This is another quick update regarding our near match report in XLS format. First, a little refresher about how it looks in HTM format currently: 1. a9704426 100 1 $a Bernhardt, Rolf. 99.5% n 81070694 100 10 $a Bernhardt, Rolf, $d 1934- 93.8% n 00114719 100 1 $a Bernhardt, Rudolf, $d b. 1867? 2. a9733670 100 1 $a Carroll, Stephen J. 99.5% n 79041728 100 1 $a Carroll, Stephen J., $d 1930- 99.5% n 79041110 100 1 $a Carroll, Stephen J., $d 1940- And this is how it looks in XLS format: No Bib ID UNM Unmatched Heading %-1 Tag-1 Near Match-1 Authority-1 1 a9704426 100 $a Bernhardt, Rolf. 84.8% 100 $a Bernhardt, Rolf, $d 1934- n81070694 <http://lccn.loc.gov/n81070694> 2 a9733670 100 $a Carroll, Stephen J. 87.2% 100 $a Carroll, Stephen J., $d 1930- n79041728 <http://lccn.loc.gov/n79041728> The quick update we just added to the XLS version is that whenever you click on the authority LCCN (for either the first or second near match), it will bring up the online Library of Congress authority record. From there, it also gives you options to view in MARCXML, MADS, URI on id.loc.gov, or VIAF. We're hoping this makes it easier on your side to bring up these authorities for a closer look while reviewing the near match report. Nate Cothran Vice President, Automation Services 533 East 1860 South Provo, Utah 84606 Phone: +1.800.288.1265, ext. 697 Direct: +1.801.342.5697 nate(a)bslw.com <mailto:nate@bslw.com?subject=Automation%20Services%20-%20Inquiry> * www.bslw.com

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Backstage - XMLAC
by Nate Cothran 24 Jan '13

24 Jan '13

We are currently working on a service that would allow clients to control their metadata within XML files in a similar fashion to what we do with MARC files. Although the specific direction we are currently exploring is in relation to digital metadata files, we've structured the program so that nearly any XML file could potentially be used just as well. We are working on a pilot project with a major university that has a large digital collection. The solution we are testing does not actually deliver matching authorities (either in MARC or XML) back to the client. However, it still attempts to make use of (and in fact use) the 1XX and 4XX fields within authorities to aid in patron access & searching. During a few trips last year, which included visits to a large academic and large public library, we were asked (separately) whether we had any capabilities in this area. We were interested but did not have anything definitive we could deliver at that point. Based on the progress to this point, I would say we are currently in the beta testing phase with our client's pilot data. As long as the XML file follows a consistent schema, we can isolate specific elements (e.g., contributor, creator, subject, etc) to control. Because we are proposing to modify the same XML file, the biggest difficulty we have run into is in overlaying that XML file back on the client's end. It really is the same file, except of course that it has been controlled and enriched with more data, and may require additional indexing steps to make use of the data. Eventually, we are also interested in exploring linked data processing, but we needed a first step in order to reach that point. This XMLAC endeavor may be that necessary step. It could be that your library has collections of digital files with metadata sitting in your digital asset management systems that, until now, you weren't sure how to validate or apply any sort of authority control to them. We are hoping that this may be a viable service to consider in the future for your library's digital metadata files. If we see you at the Backstage Breakfast this Saturday (7am-9am) at Ruth's Chris, perhaps we can discuss this in more detail. Or if you stop by our booth (1944), we can talk about it there. Either way, we will also be sure to keep the listserv updated on our progress with this potential service. If you're headed to Seattle, bring a coat. Apparently the forecast shows snow for late Thursday. Nate Cothran Vice President, Automation Services 533 East 1860 South Provo, Utah 84606 Phone: +1.800.288.1265, ext. 697 Direct: +1.801.342.5697 nate(a)bslw.com <mailto:nate@bslw.com?subject=Automation%20Services%20-%20Inquiry> * www.bslw.com <http://www.bslw.com>

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Backstage - Near Match Report in XLS Format
by Nate Cothran 23 Jan '13

23 Jan '13

We created a near match report in HTM format earlier last year, looking similar to this: 1. a9704426 100 1 $a Bernhardt, Rolf. 99.5% n 81070694 100 10 $a Bernhardt, Rolf, $d 1934- 93.8% n 00114719 100 1 $a Bernhardt, Rudolf, $d b. 1867? 2. a9733670 100 1 $a Carroll, Stephen J. 99.5% n 79041728 100 1 $a Carroll, Stephen J., $d 1930- 99.5% n 79041110 100 1 $a Carroll, Stephen J., $d 1940- As a direct result of requests from clients that our reports also be available in XLS format, we delved into figuring out how to convert the existing HTM reports to XLS format. We also wanted to improve upon the functionality of working with XLS where possible. For instance, the Unrecognized $z report looks like this in HTM format: 2688172 600 10 $a Fradkin, Philip L. $x Travel $z Alaska $z Lituya Bay Region. 2678673 600 10 $a Harrison, Henrietta $x Travel $z China $z Chiqiao Village. When converted to XLS format, it looks like this instead: No Ctrl No Tag Inds Initial Heading Unrecognized $z 1 2688172 600 10 $a Fradkin, Philip L. $x Travel $z Alaska $z Lituya Bay Region. 2 2678673 600 10 $a Harrison, Henrietta $x Travel $z China $z Chiqiao Village. This allows our clients to sort the reports in different ways and provides means to edit/delete/change/distribute to other staff members as needed. But the Near Match report's conversion to XLS proved elusive. Mainly because it is structured so differently from the other types of reports we generate. Our planned purpose with the reports is to reduce the time spent on your side in reviewing issues or problems with the data. The hope is that our conversions to XLS helps to reduce that time spent on reviewing reports. The Near Match report is intended to help rule out certain types of headings based on the (low) confidence value we assign to the near matches we find. However, the HTM version of the report is onerous to scan through as it stands now. Also, it doesn't allow clients to do any of the editing mentioned above. We think we've cracked this egg, finally. And I do want to say that we have had several clients give us very good feedback on how to improve the report itself and make it more useful. We're still working on implementing these changes, but this is how the report stands now in XLS format: No Bib ID UNM Unmatched Heading %-1 Tag-1 Near Match-1 Authority-1 1 a9704426 100 $a Bernhardt, Rolf. 84.8% 100 $a Bernhardt, Rolf, $d 1934- n 81070694 2 a9733670 100 $a Carroll, Stephen J. 87.2% 100 $a Carroll, Stephen J., $d 1930- n 79041728 Then there are another set of 4 columns to the right that lists the second near matched heading (if any), along with the same kind of info that first near match has. One of the benefits of going to XLS for this report is that we are able to cut down its size to list only those unmatched headings with near matches at 75.0% confidence or greater. As an example, we reduced the size of one R00 report from listing 1,000 entries to 413 instead. And if the secondary near match isn't at least 75.0% we don't even list it. Clients can also choose to sort the XLS file by whatever column they like (e.g., sort on %-1 from highest to lowest, so you concentrate on only the percentage-levels you prefer). We're also employing a slightly different algorithm that isn't as forgiving for determining confidence values, which is why you may notice a difference between the HTM version and the XLS version. This is very nearly ready to be in place for our clients. We just wanted to keep you posted on our progress and welcome your additional feedback or impressions. Safe travels to ALA, everyone! Backstage is at booth #1944. Nate Cothran Vice President, Automation Services 533 East 1860 South Provo, Utah 84606 Phone: +1.800.288.1265, ext. 697 Direct: +1.801.342.5697 nate(a)bslw.com <mailto:nate@bslw.com?subject=Automation%20Services%20-%20Inquiry> * www.bslw.com <http://www.bslw.com>

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Coming to Seattle for MidWinter? Join us Saturday for the Backstage Breakfast.
by Nate Cothran 08 Jan '13

08 Jan '13

On your way to ALA meetings Saturday morning, take time to drop in at the Backstage Library Works breakfast. Come meet with us at: Ruth's Chris Steak House 727 Pine Street Seattle (Just north of the convention center.) Saturday, January 26, 2013 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. Network with other librarians and touch base with your Backstage crew. Drop in for a few minutes or stay the whole time. This isn't a sales presentation. It's a chance for us to say thank you to our library clients and an opportunity to hear your thoughts. We'll also be giving away prizes, including a Kindle Fire, starting at 8:00. Seating is limited, so please reserve your space online at: www.bslw.com/rsvp <http://bslw.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=12f6693b001ffb5e2c622ac6e &id=259a0626c9&e=68a05c7df1> Can't make the meeting? Want to invite a friend? Pass this invitation along. And visit us in the exhibit hall, booth 1944. ARCHIVAL PROCESSING | DIGITIZATION | PRESERVATION MICROFILM CATALOGING | AUTHORITY CONTROL | ON-SITE SERVICES

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Happy Holidays & New Year's
by Nate Cothran 21 Dec '12

21 Dec '12

We hope you all get a chance to enjoy some time away next week. There will be a skeleton crew here if you need us. In fact, it looks like some of us have packed up and left already. You would think today's the End of the World or something. J Take care, Nate Nate Cothran Vice President, Automation Services 533 East 1860 South Provo, Utah 84606 Phone: +1.800.288.1265, ext. 697 Direct: +1.801.342.5697 nate(a)bslw.com <mailto:nate@bslw.com?subject=Automation%20Services%20-%20Inquiry> * www.bslw.com <http://www.bslw.com>

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