Dissertation--Itemization

Today was a day of learning and team effort at MBI Crowell Library. My day began with vauge instructions and a "somewhat" goal in mind. But with the help of Public Services Librarian--Amy Koehler, Technical Services Librarian--Lori Johnson, and Archives Assistant--Nikki Tochaluaski our goal was achieved...well the first of quite a few miniature goals. And as the journey continued the instructions became more clear!

My initial task today was to analyze dissertation records about the one and only D.L. Moody along with dissertations pertaining to the institute in general. First, Amy opened up Horizon--basically the more technical/less user friendly version of OPAC (which is the public interface patrons use to search what the library has.) Then Amy showed me the basic ropes on how to run the program and scan bar codes (which is every stereotypical wannabe librarian's dream!) to get the book's info into the program. After I scanned it a bunch of numbers appeared in the horizon window--numbers that are apparently the key to inside jokes, yet they meant nothing to me!

After consulting Nikki--aka the goal maker of the dissertation project, Amy and I realized that for today's purposes analysis was no long necessary! Basically, the dissertations in the archives are not all searchable in the system! So we needed a "tag" (in 2012 laymen's terms) to help lump the dissertations together and make them searchable...because the dissertations are meant to be used and accessible in a "patron friendly" sort of way. So after conversing with Nikki Amy and I beckoned the guru cataloging Tech Services Librarian, Lori Johnson. She knew just how to work horizon so we could scan each dissertation and "tag" it to make them searchable! yippee! And with the help of the "catalog" authority, we soon had an official tag AND one that is acceptable according to the rules of cataloging--because geez oh petes you should see the book of rules for cataloging!

So today I scanned a cart of dissertations, linked them, and tagged them with a six ten (610) of "Moody Bible Institute--History and Criticism Dissertation"--making our dissertations at MBI Crowell Library ready and searchable to the patron world...

Well, once the Library re-opens for the summer that is! (with hours available here)

Now we just need the dissertations to have their own home on their very own shelf in the archives room! Stay tuned for part two of the journey...which is to be continued...at some point in the future...hahaha