Monthly Archives: July 2015

Using OpenRefine to Manage Messy Metadata

Register Here.  The cost is $40.

Wed, Aug. 12, 2015   3 p.m. – 5 p.m. US/Eastern

Messy, inconsistent metadata makes collection management tasks challenging, yet it is the unfortunate the reality for most of us. In this workshop, participants will learn the basics of using OpenRefine (formerly Google Refine), “a free, open source power tool for working with messy data” to analyze, normalize, and clean up collections metadata so that datasets can be better integrated into workflows and across systems. The workshop is designed for practitioners who are interested in accessing, cleaning up, and modifying data with freely available tools. We will explore and explain how OpenRefine provides options to navigate around challenging data, and normalize both formatting and the data itself.

Participants will walk through several practical exercises using sample collections metadata featuring common metadata transformation techniques. We’ll explore approaches to transformation like text clustering and writing basic expressions to get your data in its ideal state. Advanced OpenRefine topics, such as reconciliation of datasets against Freebase and other external datasets and web services will be discussed, but not in-depth. This is an introductory workshop, ideal for those who are new to OpenRefine and are interested in exploring it’s simple yet powerful features.

Libraries and the New Technology Frontier- Webinar

Register Here.  The cost is $10.

This webinar will discuss new emerging technologies that will or are already changing our lives in various ways ranging from gamification, 3D printing, biohacking, digital currency, drones, to robots. Let’s find out why these technologies are significant and how they can influence what libraries do.

Monday, August 10th, 2015 10:00am-11:00am ET

Learning with ALA’s Center for the Future of Libraries

Register here.  The cost is $10.

Friday, August 7th, 2015 11:00am-12:00pm ET

Libraries have always looked toward the future – aligning our collections, work, and services to the future needs of users. But lately, conversations about the future of libraries have taken on an increased importance and sense of urgency. Why is right now such an important time to think about our future and to think about it differently? Miguel Figueroa will share some of what he is learning from the development of the American Library Association’s Center for the Future of Libraries, including some of the trends that are shaping our communities and the expectations of our users, the foresight and futuring strategies that might help us better plan and prepare for changing times, and insights from experts and innovative thinkers outside of our profession. More about the Center for the Future of Libraries is available at www.ala.org/libraryofthefuture.