New-school cataloging. (photo by eCampus News)

The Resource Description (RD) (née Cataloging) Team has been working diligently during these strange times. Some of the team’s regular work can be done remotely, and they are tackling several projects. During normal times, the Resource Description team performs advanced and original cataloging of physical and electronic non-serial library resources. This team also provides copy cataloging, rush and expedited cataloging, physical processing and labeling of materials, and database quality control.

Since we began to work from home, the RD team has been able to do some of their regular duties, such as importing ebook records and some physical material cataloging. As access to the building is limited, the team has been focusing much of their time on database clean-up, including correcting formatting of LC call numbers in holding records, correcting spelling mistakes in catalog, removing temporary gov doc records, re-linking to full bib records as needed, processing backlog of authority reports, creating training manuals for marking and government documents receiving and processing, and enhancing e-book records. Additionally, the team is working on revising workflows for our various DDA programs and revising documentation of processes and procedures.

Old-school cataloging. (photo by American Libraries Magazine)

The RD team has also been instrumental in providing access to many of the vendors and publishers who have opened their resources for online use during this time. In particular, the Hathi Trust Emergency Temporary Access Services (ETAS) has required much work and coordination between RD and Core Systems. Many of these publishers’ and vendors’ records have been added as temporary local collections to provide easy access for our users.

In addition to all of this, the staff on the RD team has taken advantage of the multitude of free training and webinars available to learn new skills and hone old ones.

The RD team has done a fantastic job pivoting to remote work during this time, learning new skills and supporting one another. They all deserve a big thank you. The team consists of Lisa Granholm, Steve Johnson, Marian Kelley, Pam Matthews, Anna Lech-Mlynarz, Sofia Slutskaya (manager), Laura Trittin, Sue Trowbridge, and Bev Turner.