Resources

• Presentation slides: download pptx
• Hanging Together blog post: Balancing the Metadata Portfolio
• Introduction to Metadata, edited by Murtha Baca.

Presenters

• Laura Sill, Head of Acquisitions, University of Chicago Library, University of Chicago
• Peggy Griesinger, Head of Metadata Initiatives, Hesburgh Libraries, University of Notre Dame
   

Description

Metadata. It permeates library work and services. It can mean different things to different people, and it may not be clear to everyone in an organization how their work is affected by metadata. It is often managed in silos, according to different traditions, schemas, and approaches, and the jargon used in the field can be a barrier to entry. However, when understood and coordinated across library units, metadata is undeniably powerful. How can library staff work together across organizational boundaries to establish common ground to maximize this valuable asset?

In this webinar, the presenters will share lessons learned from developing and sustaining a cross-organizational Metadata Community of Practice (MCoP) at Hesburgh Libraries from September 2020 to February 2022. The presenters will discuss the environmental and professional changes that led to the formation of the MCoP and will demonstrate how the community of practice took hold as a space for staff across library units to learn about and advocate for the power of metadata and bring big-picture thinking to metadata challenges. The presentation will highlight the MCoP as a learning framework and share examples to illustrate the impact of community involvement and member-driven participation.

This session will be of interest to those thinking about knowledge sharing across the library organization, fostering staff learning, and metadata management issues.