Open Access Metadata, Catalogers, and Vendors: The Future of Cataloging Records
The open access (OA) movement is working to transform scholarly communication around the world, but this philosophy can also apply to metadata and cataloging records. While some notable, large academic libraries, such as Harvard University, the University of Michigan, and the University of Cambridge, released their cataloging records under OA licenses, this is not the prevailing standard for libraries as a whole. In order for OA metadata to benefit users, libraries must release their cataloging records and metadata under an open access license. This OA metadata can reside locally or globally, both of which will be discussed in this article. Three main stakeholders can foster this process: libraries, vendors, and publishers. Working as a cataloger in a vendor's technical services department affords me a unique perspective on the potential role of vendors creating, promoting, and working with OA metadata to help libraries make their collections more discoverable and user-friendly. No matter what role vendors and publishers play, though, libraries and their catalogers must lead the charge in OA metadata and cataloging records in order to provide better information to users, while easing the burden of record upkeep through a collaboration of shared OA information.
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