AFRICANA FUNNEL PROJECT SURVEY REPORT (1997)

This report is not intended to be "scientific" in any way. The results of the survey should provide us with information on how the Africana Funnel Project is working (or not working), generate discussion, and help us as we look to the future.

Surveys were emailed to all participants of the Afri Funnel List. There are fourteen participants in the list, not including myself (the coordinator), my boss, and our contact at the Library of Congress (LC). Eight members of the list responded, including a participant from the Smithsonian who actually contributes directly to LC, but still desires to be a part of the list.

In addition to the surveys emailed to Afri Funnel List participants, another version of the survey was emailed to members of the ALC/Greg Finnegan list. Three responses came from people who are not catalogers and do not participate in the Funnel Project in any way.

The following pages provide the survey questions and selections of the responses.

AFRICANA SUBJECT FUNNEL PARTICIPANTS SURVEY

1. Is the Africana Subject Funnel important or useful -- why or why not?

The majority of the respondents believe that the Funnel is important and useful. One respondent, who classed himself as a "list lurker," noted that, while the Funnel is not important to him personally, it is very important in the larger scheme of things; for all of us as librarians seeking to improve access to materials, etc.

• It is important that we participate and use our subject background. "We all know the past problems that we have had to deal with as a result of decisions made by non-specialists, especially with regard to culturally offensive usage."

• The Funnel is a chance to improve LCSH with new terms and references.

• The Funnel is also a chance for us to discuss problems with colleagues.

• Anything that increases the number of headings available is good; and we don't have to wait for LC to create them.

• It is a mechanism to do things right, particularly when one has doubts about his/her ability to do it alone.

• It is a good source of documentation and keeps us up-to-date on rules and practices.

Yes 4 + 1 respondent from Smithsonian

No 3

3. If you answered yes to question 2, please answer the following questions:

a. How often do you contribute?

• Once
• Sporadically, less than I had hoped.
• When I have a batch, every 4 months or do.
• a few each month (we showoffs at NU)

• Yes, have a big backlog of headings to fix and update.
• Yes, on a regular-irregular basis.
• No, I no longer have the time due to new projects and a heavier workload.

The majority of respondents said yes, but noted a few problems:

• There is a problem with the content and the tone of the feedback. Do not like the misuse of secondary tools to evaluate headings. (For example using Ethnologue as "the" source.)

• Response time is reasonable for new terms but "what has not been satisfactory is response (positive or negative) on proposals for revisions--changing old terms for new ... months of waiting, no response, no action ..."

All respondents thought that they had benefited from their participation.

e. Has there been anything negative about your participation?

While some respondents felt there was nothing negative about their participation, several noted that there were some aspects of the Funnel that they did not like.

• Frustration with being treated as clerks by LC.
• Preparing forms, etc. takes too much time.
• It is a lot of work and I do not feel that it is appreciated at the higher levels of the local library administration.

a. Why have you not contributed to the funnel?

• There has been an increase in other duties/responsibilities; no time to even catalog anymore.

• Not needed in my job. We only use basic and broad headings in manuscript department.

• Problems with local institutional climate. We do NACO and are discouraged from doing anything else. Does not seem wise to contradict my administration. Other duties increasing so supervisor discourages me from other projects so can increase production statistics.

• Hard to say, would like to but ...

• Would like to stay on as a "list lurker."

• No.

• "Hope springs eternal." Staying on the list keeps the project on my mind and on my list of things I would like to do if I can ever get the chance.

• Appreciate the information about decisions made at LC, etc. Information may filter down other ways, but feel list is more direct.

• We need agreement that the principles of literary warrant and cataloger judgement apply. This is NOT always true.

• For non-routine contributions, distribute for Africanist peer comments before submitting.

• All Africana Librarians Council (ALC) librarians should commit to contributing on a regular basis.

• Encourage more cataloger/bibliographer partnerships along Smithsonian model.

• We should insist that we be taken seriously as subject specialists.

• We should encourage/promote more competencies within the group, possibly evolving de facto areas of specialization.

• A number of respondents expressed regrets that they are so overwhelmed that they can not contribute as they would like.

1. Is the Africana Subject Funnel important or useful -- why or why not?

• It is useful and important, perhaps critical.

• It is a means of providing effective subject access to information relating to Africa. Subject access is a critical aspect of universal bibliographic control.

• It has given me an increased understanding of the framework in which subject headings must be developed.

Yes 2

N/A -- respondent teaches in a library school.

3. If you answered yes to question 2, please answer the following questions:

a. Who at your institution has contributed?

• Only one response to question.

b. Do you encourage their participation in the funnel? If so, how?

• Yes. Provide time and necessary tools, consultation etc. Mention this work in annual evaluation.

• Yes, see b.

• Yes, increased subject access is **always** beneficial.

e. Has there been anything negative about your institution's participation?

• No.

I>a. Why has no one from you institution contributed to the funnel?

• N/A

b. If your institution does not contribute, what value do you perceive in there being a funnel?

• Do research in the area of African studies and teach the organization of information; the result is that I appreciate the importance of contributing to the process.

• Maybe the name should be more self-explanatory. When I refer to it outside Africana librarian circles, I always have to describe it in several sentences. The "Funnel Project" sounds a little too culinary. Perhaps this is why non-catalogers don't show much interest?

• More coordinated efforts to systematically review LCSH and then begin working, in conjunction with subject specialists, to devote the attention needed to bring about necessary changes.

• There seems to be little participation from catalogers and little interest on the part of non-catalogers. Perhaps a show and tell presentation at a future meeting--with color animation and music?