Transformation Project Reaches Milestone
The University Libraries have reached a welcome natural plateau in the Dewey to LC Transformation Project. Last summer, the Libraries began to migrate (or transform) Engineering & Science Library and Hunt Library collections from the old Dewey Decimal arrangement to the academic standard, Library of Congress subject classification. As of January 2008, all of the collections have been finished except Hunt Library's 4th floor arts collection, which will be done in early summer 2008.
Referring to the enormity of the task and the amount of heavy lifting involved, Dean of University Libraries Gloriana St. Clair stated, "They have moved mountains, and now the mountains will be still [for a few months, until after Commencement] when the last peak will be moved." After months of planning and months of work, the reorganized, browseable collections at E&S and Hunt libraries are a huge payoff for Carnegie Mellon students and faculty.
On February 11, dean St. Clair and associate dean Erika Linke hosted a Plateau Party at Posner Center to recognize and thank librarians and staff whose combined efforts have resulted in a successful, efficient project. After proud and happy staff members shared an open mic to tell some of their favorite transformation stories, Ms. Linke took the stage with an A to Z recitation of the project's characteristics and high points. She then awarded special recognitions to individual librarians and staff who had been nominated by Transformation leadership for their outstanding contributions: Keturah Cappadonia, Jillian Chisnell, Terrence Chiusano, Jackie Cipa, Linda Dujmic, John Fudrow,Jan Hardy, Missy Harvey, Kristin Heath, Melanie Klaput, Cindy Koller, Arnette Loggins, Ai-Chi Liu, Melanie Myers, Mary Neubauer, Denise Novak. Judi Pirhalla, Ruth Ann Schmidt, Kim Sestili, Prema Venkataraman, Janelle Waller, and Leah Zande. Dean St. Clair wrapped up the program with recognitions for Transformation Project leaders: Alice Bright, Sue Collins, Nancy Koelbler, Ona Taylor, and Terry Hurlbert, head of cataloging, who had overall project responsibility. She concluded by thanking associate dean Erika Linke for her steadfast support.
Congratulations, everyone!
They’ve Moved Mountains! (02/02/08)
Gloriana St. Clair, dean of University Libraries, is delighted to announce having reached a plateau in Transformation 2007, a massive project to migrate library collections from Dewey subject classification to Library of Congress (LC) classification.
Approximately 500,000 books in Engineering & Science Library and Hunt Library will have been reclassified, relabeled, sorted, and reshelved when the project finally ends this coming summer.
“They've moved mountains, and the mountains will be still now until after school is out, when they will move the last peak,” said St. Clair, referring to the fact that Hunt Library’s arts collection has yet to be migrated to LC.
Dean St. Clair thanks and congratulates everyone who had a role the project, particularly:
Terry Hurlbert, head of cataloging, who had overall responsibility for planning and managing the project
Alice Bright, Sue Collins, Linda Dujmic, Missy Harvey, Kristin Heath, Terry Hurlbert, Nancy Koelbler, Erika Linke, Melanie Myers, Denise Novak, and Ona Taylor, who made up the reclassification task force
Nancy Koelbler and Jackie Cipa, who hired and scheduled the Transformation crew, coordinated day-to-day operations, and implemented the project at E&S Library
Alice Bright and Sue Collins, who coordinated day-to-day operations and supervised the project at Hunt, and Ona Taylor, who coordinated hiring and scheduling the Transformation crew at Hunt
Library employees who spared hours from their regular work to assist with the project
Transformation 2007 assistants, who did most of the heavy lifting
Carnegie Mellon students and faculty were very patient throughout the transformation process, and made good use of staff to help them track down books as they were being rearranged.
St. Clair says, “We’re glad to have a period of calm before we finish the 4th floor of Hunt in May and June.”
