Summary: A detailed breakdown of tasks handled by TS and the staff responsible for them. For a general breakdown of the work of each team, see our info page on the Libraries' main site: Technical Services units & staff | MSU Libraries

Acquisitions

Acquisitions orders, receives, and catalogs materials for the MSU Libraries collections. We process all monograph and serials orders and receipts (including approval plans and shelf-ready plans), monitor the materials budget, and manage materials fund accounting processes.

See below for team member responsibilities. If you’re not sure, start with Head of Acquisitions Lisa Smith (884-0834) or Asst.Head Ed Gildner (884-0830).

Cataloging & Metadata Services

CMS handles descriptions of our resources for the catalog, dealing with materials of all formats and in a wide variety of languages. The unit consists of the Original Cataloging team, which creates original metadata or enhances existing metadata, and the Copy Cataloging team, which identifies and enhances existing metadata in the OCLC database. 

• See below for a quick guide to team member responsibilities, and visit this page for more details.

• For larger batches of materials with special cataloging requirements, start here: Getting special materials cataloged

• If you’re not sure, start with Head of CMS Joshua Barton or Asst. Head Autumn Faulkner (884-3488).

Catalog Maintenance

Catalog Maintenance handles physical processing of materials, updating the catalog, providing quality control for catalog data points aside from authorized headings (see the Metadata Management section below), and performing batch record loads. CatMan also conducts large-scale collection maintenance projects, including the transfer and withdrawal of selected collection material.

See below for team member responsibilities. If you’re not sure, start with Head of CatMan Don Depoorter (884-0881) or Lisa English (884-0819).

General maintenance

Barcoding & labeling

Metadata Management

MetMan is responsible for authority and quality control of the MSU Libraries catalog--i.e., any maintenance associated with authorized name headings, identifiers, URLs/URIs, and controlled vocabularies. Tasks include: managing the catalog’s authority file; updating bibliographic record access points; reviewing the new and invalid headings reports in Sierra, managing the URL Checker and correcting broken links; creating and maintaining local authority records; creating, reviewing, and updating vendor record load instructions; cleanup of loaded records.

If you’re not sure, start with Head of Metadata Management Lisa Robinson.

Electronic Resources

System Librarian Ranti Junus’s unit, Electronic Resources, evaluates and supports technical & access issues related to electronic services and resources including purchased databases, the catalog, and other digital resources. The unit is also responsible for maintenance of the Electronic Resource Management (ERM) system.

Some management and maintenance of e-resources happens outside of Ranti’s unit. See below for details.

Library Platform/System Services

Currently, the MSU Libraries is preparing to migrate from Sierra’s Innovative to the open-source FOLIO platform. Dao Gong’s Catalog Services unit used to be Sierra-focused, but will soon be transitioning to new functions. In the meantime, see below for staff members currently involved with Sierra permissions, functions, maintenance, and reporting.

Miscellaneous