Speaking for CPSO, the Coop staff perform the useful "first pass" review
of incoming SACO proposals with the intention of providing early notice
in the case of serious problems (duplication or conflict with existing
headings or references, lack of 670s, nonconformance with stated policy,
etc.) as well as the the critical function of bib file maintenance in
the LC catalog (searching for records to be changed and marking them for
updating) for headings and changes proposed through SACO.
Also, I don't feel that Coop staff are left holding the bag having to
"explain or justify" CPSO's decisions. At the weekly editorial meetings
(always with a Coop colleague in attendance) and through consultation
with Coop staff on a daily as needed basis, the CPSO subject policy
specialists "explain and justify" (if necessary) with the full
expectation that this information will be shared with the contributing
institution. Explanations of proposals that are not approved or made
resubmit are put in the weekly list minutes (Summary of Decisions).
CPSO does not have the staff resources to communicate individually with
SACO participants on a regular basis.
Tom
>>> [log in to unmask] 05/15/03 02:21AM >>>
Adam's point about Coop staffing is well made and I wouldn't disagree
with
its general thrust.
However, one thing I feel we can do is look to workflows that reduce
the
pressures on LC staff, and perhaps consequently eases the burden on
Coop.
So, for example, if (without prejudging the outcome of this group's
work) we
were to recommend minimum quotas, and the use of the utilities for
record
submission, perhaps proposals could bypass Coop entirely and be left
entirely for CPSO to deal with? Perhaps LC itself might want to look at
why
CPSO sets the rules, but Coop is left to try to explain or justify them
to
the participants (shouldn't CPSO be doing that??)? And the
consultant's
report identified a problem in the amount of handling that proposals
received within LC as an issue, as I recall.
So, whilst I agree with every last word that Adam wrote, I also feel
that we
can assist Coop to meet targets by proposing mechanisms and workflows
which
have the potential for reducing the burden on Coop staff.
I'm glad Adam raised this.
Hugh
--
Hugh Taylor
Head of Cataloguing, Cambridge University Library
West Road, Cambridge CB3 9DR, England
email: [log in to unmask] fax: +44 (0)1223 333160
phone: +44 (0)1223 333069 (with voicemail) or
phone: +44 (0)1223 333000 (ask for pager 036)
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