2018 Charleston Library Conference

Challenge of Discovery: Recent large scale initiatives focused the attention of the Smathers Libraries at the University of Florida on the need for significantly expanded and enhanced metadata for our digital collections, both retrospective and prospective. This requires new tools and changing roles and responsibilities for cataloging/metadata staff, including the application of automated processes, Improved and consistent metadata practices, and the development of new taxonomies. Projects that are described include the new genealogical initiatives with Internet Archive and Family Search, Portal of Florida History, the Digital Library of the Caribbean (dLOC) and the Cuban Heritage Initiatives.

The results of the pilot and its application to our digital collections indicated the need for more automated processes going forward to allow traditional cataloging to focus on the things that need individual attention and use automated tools to develop and improve metadata for other materials. We are working with tools that have been developed for information products and services, but can be applied effectively to library collections.