Candidates for Vice President/President Elect

Peter Lisius
Kent State University Libraries

I am interested in the Vice President of OLAC position because I feel it capitalizes on my current skill-sets, and it could place me on a trajectory to bigger and better opportunities in the AV cataloging world.  Under my purview, Kent State University achieved OCLC Enhance status in visual formats, scores and sound recordings.  I am also an active contributor to both the NACO Music and AV funnels.  These skill sets, combined with a desire to always build upon what I have learned before, I believe will make me very effective in the position of Vice President/President-elect in OLAC.

Amy Weiss
The Florida State University Libraries

I have twenty-four years of cataloging experience.  Currently, I am the Associate Director for Technical Services at Florida State University.  I had my first experience with media cataloging in the mid-90s at Ball State University, where I cataloged computer files, as they were then known, and eventually added videos and cartographic materials.  I have been cataloging and doing cataloging training for media materials ever since.  Currently I am working with FSU’s metadata cataloger on developing standards for cataloging FSU’s digital archives. 

I have been involved with OLAC for many years.  I have presented workshops on cataloging electronic resources at two conferences, acted as Secretary, and most recently, was editor of the OLAC Newsletter.   I believe that OLAC has made and will continue to make valuable contributions to the creation of high quality metadata, in whatever form, for audiovisual and electronic materials. With the proliferation of form/genre headings and RDA looming on the horizon, our mission is more critical than ever.  

Candidate for Secretary

Marcia Barrett
University Libraries
The University of Alabama

Background Information
I was involved with OLAC when I began my career in 1995 as serials/nonbook cataloger for University Libraries.   As a new cataloger, I was grateful for the workshops offered at the OLAC Conference in Denton and for the opportunity to be involved with such a productive professional association.   Having served two terms as a member of CAPC allowed me to benefit from the experience of more seasoned colleagues while making a contribution to the profession.

When a new job opportunity came five years into my career, I took on responsibilities for database maintenance.  Since I was no longer involved with cataloging nonbook materials, I focused on other professional organizations – ALCTS and the ACRL Women’s Studies Section (WSS).  I have chaired a number of committees for WSS, made presentations at ALA, and received three Let’s Talk About It grants from the ALA Public Programs Offices and Nextbook.

In 2005, I moved into my current position as special collections cataloger.   With responsibilities for cataloging all formats, I was eager to resume my membership with OLAC.   In 2008, I was delighted to be appointed to membership on CAPC.   My recent contributions as a member of OLAC include work on the DVD Cataloging Guide Update and the Best Practices for Cataloging slotMusic (forthcoming). Also, I am a member of the ACRL Rare Books and Manuscripts Section Bibliographic Standards Committee.  In addition to teaching a cataloging course as adjunct instructor for the University of Alabama School of Library and Information Sciences, I have been selected as an instructor for the forthcoming ALCTS web course on Fundamentals in Cataloging.

Statement of Interest
While I have found wonderful opportunities to contribute as a member of CAPC, I am ready to take on a leadership position with OLAC.   The position of Secretary is a good fit at this time.  I have experience as newsletter editor for University Libraries and have served as Secretary for both the Alabama Association of College & Research Libraries and the ACRL Women’s Studies Section.  As catalogers, we all exhibit the attention to detail required of the position of Secretary, but I genuinely enjoy recording minutes.  I plan to attend both ALA Midwinter and Annual conferences as well as the upcoming OLAC Conference in Macon, so I can easily meet the responsibilities of an OLAC officer.   I would welcome the opportunity to serve OLAC in this capacity.