Starting in 2019, the USU Libraries Cataloging and Metadata Services unit has engaged in a series of research projects aimed at testing how the metadata standards employed by the unit were used in the search process. Below is a list of those projects along with their scholarly outputs and the research procedures used.
MARC Discoverability (2019-2021)
Papers
Liz Woolcott, Andrea Payant, Becky Skeen & Paul Daybell (2021) Missing the MARC: Utilization of MARC Fields in the Search Process, Cataloging & Classification Quarterly, 59:1, 28-52, DOI: 10.1080/01639374.2021.1881010
Abstract: Utah State University Cataloging and Metadata Services (CMS) unit analyzed MARC record discoverability within the libraries’ discovery layer, Encore, using web analytics, a web-scrapping tool, and a relational database to examine MARC records listed in users’ search results. MARC records were identified, isolated, and coded to pinpoint where search terms appeared, determine whether they were present in full or in part, and ascertain prominent fields not present in records. Analysis of results showed that notes and summaries were important for record retrieval and that users interacted with authorized name fields more frequently than authorized subject fields.
Research Procedures
Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Discoverability (2020-2021)
Papers
Paul Daybell, Andrea Payant, Liz Woolcott, Becky Skeen, Anna-Maria Arnljots & Kurt Meyer (Accepted) A Tale of Two Levels: Analyzing the Discoverability and Impact of Item-Level Description in EAD Finding Aids, Journal of Archival Organization (Accepted for publication)
Research Procedures
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