PCC Standing Committee on Training

Notes from the SCT Meeting

held at ALA Midwinter, January 30, 1999, Phildelphia, Pa.

Notes

Present: Joan Swanekamp (Yale), Chair, Ana Cristán (Acting BIBCO Coordinator, LC), Ann Della Porta (LC), Carol Hixson (UCLA), recorder, Glenn Patton (OCLC), John Reimer (U.Georgia) Guests and observers: Jean Hirons (CONSER Coordinator), Wilma Minty, Sally Sinn, (Chair of the PCC), Ruta Penkiunas (LC)

Serials Cataloging Cooperative Training Program (SCCTP): The meeting began with a brief explanation by Jean Hirons, CONSER Coordinator, of the SCCTP being developed by CONSER to provide basic serials cataloging training. The SCCTP will prepare the training materials which will be available through the Library of Congress Cataloging Distribution Service but they will leave the training to networks and other groups. Hirons reported that a meeting of potential trainers, trainees, and cataloging managers held on January 29 at ALA generated a lot of enthusiasm for the program. The idea is to provide basic serials cataloging training to CONSER and non-CONSER members with the hope of expanding CONSER participation. Individual libraries are finding it difficult to provide such basic training. Hirons reported that there could be as many as 25 trainers and she would like to see the SCCTP represented on the PCC Standing Committee on Training. John Reimer could serve as the liaison for the group. She would also like the trainers to have a mechanism for support and wondered whether that could be accomplished through the PCCList or if they would need another listserv. Hirons would like to see the SCCTP be responsible for suggesting changes to the training materials because she will be unable to take on that additional responsibility. Hirons anticipates that the current steering committee will continue on as an advisory body for some time.

Swanekamp asked whether the PCC viewed it as part of its agenda to do general cataloging training. It was noted that the training model for BIBCO and NACO assumes that trainees already know the basics and only provides instruction in how to add the Program elements and contribute program records. While some committee members would like to see us have the flexibility to coordinate some basic technical training, others felt that such an approach was too ambitious. Patton noted that the SCT had provided training on facilitation and presentation skills, as well as in Program values, because that was seen as a weak spot in overall training. If the PCC were to follow the SCCTP model, it would be introducing something that's new and potentially controversial. Hirons noted that they would introduce the values along with the technical training. It was agreed that Hirons would coordinate the list of trainers and that the SCT and the SCCTP would get together periodically to discuss the serials initiative. Hirons would like to see it evolve into providing distance learning.

The discussion moved on to broader training issues. At the PCC Trainers meeting held for all BIBCO and NACO trainers on January 29, trainers reported that they are often going into libraries that are not prepared for the training. Revisers frequently find themselves having to correct basic cataloging errors, in addition to revising the Program elements. There was some discussion about how to make certain that a library had the foundation needed to become a Program participant. Relying on making certain that the library filled out the survey ahead of time and having the trainers work with a contact person at the library ahead of time were seen as two approaches.

Cataloging Now!.

There is one more Cataloging Now session scheduled for April, sponsored by SUNY OCLC. There is also the possibility of two more sessions. The comments from the previous trainers are that it should be made a little shorter. The SCT discussed whether we wanted to retain the section for public services librarians. The group felt that it would be feasible to cover what needed to be covered in the context of the other sessions, especially the idea that technical services and public services librarians need to be talking with each other about Core cataloging so they can decide what exceptions, if any, are to be applied locally in doing Full or Core cataloging. Glenn Patton and Colleen will offer some suggestions on how to incorporate the public services issues into the other sections.. While it was felt that a little less of the overview of the PCC was needed, it was still considered important to promote the Program and its values. Swanekamp will ask Brian Schottlaender and Sally Sinn for some revisions. It was considered good to continue to have a summary wrap up session as part of the Institute. It's useful to discuss what individuals might do with the Core concept back at their own institutions. It's important to get people thinking about their particular collections and how to implement the Core concept locally. The revisions will need to be made quickly so that they can be incorporated into the April session. It will also mean some modification in the publicity for the Institute.

BIBCO training certification.

Ana Cristán and Ann Della Porta led the discussion. The first Train the Trainers session was done in 1995. Four more BIBCO institutions have been added since the beginning of October. Other libraries are interested but they don't always fully understand the pre-requisites for joining the Program, such as the need to be an OCLC Enhance library first. There needs to be a checklist for libraries to fill out. Ana has been referring people to the FAQ page for information. Some other SCT members expressed the need to improve the documentation. The group discussed how to go about getting more trainers. Some library administrators are concerned that the same people are called on to do the training and that there is the need to get some new blood. It was noted that revision is even more time-consuming than the training and that it might be possible to expand the list of reviewers. Marty Joachim of IU has recently been added as a reviewer even though he hasn't been certified as a BIBCO trainer.

The possibility of certifying more trainers by having them serve as apprentices to other certified trainers was discussed and approved. It was remembered that the original model devised for BIBCO training was to send out trainers in pairs but this was deemed to be too expensive for the institution. Everyone agreed that it's important to have trainers who really do share the values espoused as part of the program. There has been some concern that some trainers are themselves having a hard time with the Core concept and are not emphasizing that in their presentation. It was suggested that an apprenticeship could contain an approval component, including some sort of evaluation. Buying in to the Core concept and other values could be a part of the evaluation. It was agreed that interns should be drawn from existing BIBCO libraries. It was further suggested that BIBCO statistics could be used to help select trainers and institutions which are contributing a lot of Core records could be seen as a likely source of more trainers. The home institutions of trainers need to understand that there is an expectation of a two-year commitment and that there would need to be institutional support for the time spent on this activity.

Cristán noted that there is money for another BIBCO Train the Trainers session. There is a need to update the training materials to include more about non-book formats. There is also a need to review the training script. The next session could also be viewed as a retraining session, getting some people up to speed on non-book formats and re-emphasizing the Core values. It would be useful to include a session on the conflict between Core and Full. Revisions to the training documentation need to be there at least two months before the session takes place. Swanekamp will need to run this all by the PCC Steering Committee.

Guidelines for evaluation of PCC Core records.

Swanekamp discussed putting together a data gathering model and encouraging people to undertake research projects that focus on Core records and their utility. Wayne Jones sent comments to Swanekamp encouraging the inclusion of a place on the evaluation form for some subjective comments about the training program. Should the concept of Bibliographic File Maintenance (BFM) be expanded to include Program records that are not in the LC files? Patton noted that OCLC does not do its authorities flips very frequently.

BIBCO training issues:

The SCT members discussed the application process for libraries wishing to join the BIBCO program, especially the preliminary BIBCO survey and the application form. It's important for libraries to have completed the entire survey before undergoing training. Completing the survey requires libraries to have thought out the issues and to have made some preliminary decisions about how they would utilize Core records. BIBCO was never intended to be the new version of NCCP and not all libraries seem to realize that. All SCT members were encouraged to look over the FAQ and communicate problems or suggestions to Ana Cristán. Trainers should not have to be helping a library decide how it's going to apply Core cataloging; that needs to have been worked out by the institution as part of the preparation for the training.

The group discussed if we should be training libraries as BIBCO contributors if they are unable to get their records to a utility. How important is it to have the records available? Some members felt that a library that was unable to contribute its records for a long period of time should not be a BIBCO library while other members did not feel that should be a consideration. There was agreement that we need to be pressuring local system vendors to enhance their systems so that outputting Program records for uploading to a utility was a high priority. It was noted that contribution was more difficult for foreign libraries and we don't want to scare potential contributors off. Having to search the utility directly before submitting a contribution was considered expensive, particularly for foreign participants, and it was desired that the upload process be able to weed out the duplicate records for a contributing library.

BIBCO training materials:

Cristán noted the need to add in some narrative to the sections of the BIBCO manual that have been completed by Jain Fletcher. Carol Hixson volunteered to work on this and will work on this with Cristán and Swanekamp after ALA. The first draft will be needed by May so that it can be reviewed at the BIBCO Operations meeting. Changes made to the training materials can be incorporated into the manual. Actual examples can be incorporated in later. The Participants Manual can also provide some introductory material and be used to help promote the Program and its values.

The SCT members reaffirmed their belief that the SCT should not be involved in basic cataloging training, including the review of new participants' records. Such problems should be referred back to the contact person at the institution. The members also discussed the possibility of having series workshops similar to SACO workshops. There was general support for such an approach.

Swanekamp ended the meeting by reminding everyone of the BIBCO participants meeting and by reviewing the action items and decisions taken during the meeting.