I am the Serials Cataloging Library Assistant IV, with varied duties. These range from updating and maintaining workflow documentation, to supervising 3 full-time staff members, to complex copy cataloging of new serial titles. Most of my job involves problem-solving of one type or another, frequently involving the re-cataloging of titles. I continue to work in the retrospective conversion of all types of serial titles and various clean-up projects in the department. I am beginning work in designing and implementing the Serials Section pages on the Libraries’ intranet where our documentation will be accessible to Library staff members.

I am a member of the Authority File Transfer Taskforce which is tasked with the project to update our authority file with a complete Library of Congress authority file.  This project is interesting in that it ties into the ILS conversion work I did several years ago. Because the Library’s are concerned with retaining local data as well as importing the most up-to-date records available, the task is complex. The full authority load occured early in October, 2002, and after working through issues relating to the weekly updating of the file, we will begin work on "phase two" of the project - which is implementation of automatic bibliographic record updating.

Starting in August 2002, I also manage the “Dual Linkage Project,” which will allow circulation information to be displayed for multiple bibliographic records. This will be a great boon to patrons and public services staff. For this project, the UI Libraries’ approved the hiring of one half-time library assistant and about twenty student assitants to do the database maintenance necessary to complete dual linkage on approximately 120,000 retrospectively converted analytic records. I am also hiring, training, and supervising these people. Addtionally, I have developed and documented workflows and procedures for Central Tecnical Services staff to follow as they catalog new titles and process added volumes.

From 1999 to March 2002 I was the Serials Cataloging Library Assistant LA III, during which time I cataloged new serial titles with “good copy,” but was also assigned to various special projects. I had duties on Library committees where I worked in the original implementation of Infohawk, and the upgrade to a newer version. I did quite a bit of work in testing, mostly in the Serials module, but I also spent considerable time working through various character set issues, including the move from ANSEL to Unicode. Working through the Unicode issues continued into August of 2002. The majority of the work culmunated in designing and delivering training sessions to all levels of Central Technical Services staff. This work was undertaken by myself and my co-worker, Steve Wickelhaus. Currently, I remain a contact person for problem-solving unicode issues.

In 1999 and 2000, most of my work life was involved in the Libraries' migration to a new ILS, Aleph 500, as a member of the Data Conversion Team. This project took up most of my work time for almost a year, after which several months were spent helping with various clean-up projects in the department which were a direct result of the conversion.  

From 1996-1999, I worked on a project to retrospectively convert the Libraries' serial titles that had not yet been added to library's database, InfoHawk. Initially, I concentrated on the conversion of analyzed serial titles, after that part of the project is completed, I converted all forms of serial titles.   My responsibilities also encompassed cataloging/converting map series, usually analyzed, including the map analytics.

Previously, I was in the Monographic Bibliographic Processing Unit where my responsibilties were to copy catalog new titles which had acceptable level copy, but had the potential for complications in the bibliographic record.

I have also worked in both the Monographic and Serials Acquisitions Units.