Browsing by Author "Smith, Taylor S."

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    A Dicey Situation: A Study of How Controlled Vocabularies Describe Tabletop Roleplaying Games
    (Taylor & Francis Group, 2024-02-09) Smith, Taylor S.
    As popular culture has become an accepted aspect of study, academic interest has increased for tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs). However, existing controlled vocabularies cannot accurately describe them, and this will decrease their discoverability in collections. This article surveys several controlled vocabularies that feature headings for TTRPGs and argues that their definitions, structures, and disambiguation between subject and genre/form fail to distinguish TTRPGs from other forms of roleplay or from works about TTRPGs. The author also offers possible short and long-term solutions for better implementing existing vocabularies in TTRPG records.
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    Fantastic Discovery: Guidelines for Cataloging Fictional Maps
    (Taylor & Francis, 2025) Smith, Taylor S.
    Geographic depictions of fictional spaces present a unique combination of features relevant to an array of disciplines. Scholars interested in cartography, the narrative functions of maps in literature, the specific universe which the materials depict, and the relationships between fictional and extant geography all have cause to seek out these resources. However, standard map cataloging practices can create records that do not prioritize elements most relevant to users searching for them. This paper compares different types of fictional maps, examines which aspects might be most important to users, and suggests how to best ensure their discovery as MARC records.
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    Guidelines for Efficiency When Batch Processing HLM MARC Records at a Large Academic Library
    (Taylor & Francis, 2024) Smith, Taylor S.
    As academic libraries continue to invest in electronic resources, batch processing of vendor-supplied MARC records has become a major aspect of cataloging procedures. As the scale of records increases, methods for efficient editing and loading become more important. This article uses the development of a workflow for handling records from EBSCO’s HLM service as a study for finding a balance between timeliness and discoverability when processing and troubleshooting large numbers of vendor-supplied records with a focus on scalability, automation, and coordination.