New Digital Access Team formed

By Jeff Edmunds

The role of Cataloging and Metadata Services has shifted significantly over the past several years, from the creation of metadata for primarily physical collections to re-purposing and maintenance of metadata for electronic collections and digital projects. In response to this shift, the department recently created the Digital Access Team (DAT). DAT is charged with ensuring seamless access to the Libraries’ digital assets by creating, managing, and re-purposing metadata. The team oversees the Bibload workflow, the MARC 360 eBook service from SerialsSolutions, the processing of URL checking reports in The CAT, and the transformation of existing metadata for digital collections in CONTENTdm and other platforms. The team also works closely with I-TECH on repurposing existing catalog records for mass digitization partnerships in which the Libraries participate, such as HathiTrust and the Internet Archive.

The Digital Access Team is managed by Jeff Edmunds (digital access coordinator), with the metadata librarian (currently vacant) as faculty resource person.

The Digital Access Team consists of Jeff Edmunds (full-time; Bibloads, coordination with Serials and Acquisitions Services, I-Tech and external partners), Ken Robinson (part-time; Dickinson Bibloads, technical support, analysis and scripting, CMS work), Stephen Mattes (part-time; database maintenance and quality assurance) and Jeff Ungar (part-time; CONTENTdm metadata creation and maintenance). Other members will be added as the team evolves.

Questions about the work of the DAT may be directed to Jeff Edmunds (jhe2@psu.edu ) while the Metadata Librarian position is vacant.