Research Projects

Knowledge of New Frameworks and Standards in Cataloging and Metadata with Dr. Hui-Yu Hsiung, pre-proposal stage, IMLS, 2022. (unfunded)

A study proposed to survey the current state of library professionals’ knowledge of new cataloging frameworks and standards such as RDA (original and 3R), BIBFRAME, RDF, LRM, and Linked Data within U.S. academic and public libraries in order to inform new and continuing education and training programming of these core library professionals. This will include measuring the librarians' level of knowledge and competence of these new frameworks and standards and identifying what implementation challenges may hinder the successful organization of library resources within a rapidly evolving information environment. The practical implications of this project include raising awareness of best cataloging and metadata practices, guiding future catalog data conversion effects into new forms for use in sophisticated information retrieval systems, and informing LIS cataloging and metadata educators as it concerns evolving LIS curricula.

A Survey of the Extent and Utilization of Cataloging Tools and Resources within Technical Services in North Texas Public Libraries (CTR-NT) January-May 2006

A study funded by a 2005 OCLC/ALISE Library and Information Science Research Grant Program (LISRG) that examined the extent and utilization of cataloging tools and resources within technical service departments in the public libraries of the North Texas Regional Library System (NTRLS) and the North East Texas Library System (NETLS).

Resulting publications and presentations:

  • Miksa, S.D. (2008). A survey of local library cataloging tool and resource utilization. Journal of Education for Library and Information Science, 49(2), 128-146. (19 pages)
  • “CTR-NT: a survey of local cataloging tool and resource utilization,” American Library Association annual conference, Anaheim, CA., June 28, 2008

Examining Present Practices to Inform Future Metadata Use: An Empirical Analysis of MARC Content Designation Utilization, 2004-2007 with Dr. William E. Moen

A study funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Studies (IMLS) that examined the extent of catalogers' use of content designation available in MARC 21 by analyzing nearly 56 million records from OCLC's WorldCat database. The project had three goals:

  • Provide empirical evidence to document MARC 21 content designation use
  • Explore the evolution of MARC content designation for patterns of availability and adoption/use level
  • Investigate a methodological approach to understand the factors contributing to current levels of MARC content designation use and relationships with the cataloging enterprise.

Resulting publications and presentations:

  • Moen, W.E., Miksa, S.D., Eklund, A., Polyakov, S. & Snyder, G. (2006). Learning from artifacts: Metadata utilization analysis. In Proceedings of the Joint Conference on Digital Libraries, June 11-15, 2006, Chapel Hill, NC. (10 pages) 
  • Miksa, S.D., Moen, W.E., Snyder, G., Polyakov, S., & Eklund, A. (2006). Metadata assistance of the Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records’ four user tasks: A report on the MARC Content Designation Utilization (MCDU) Project. In G. Budin, C. Swertz, & K. Mitgutsch (Eds.) Knowledge organization for a global learning society. Proceedings of the International Society for Knowledge Organization (ISKO) 9th International Conference, Vienna, Austria, July 2006. (pp. 41-49). Advances in Knowledge Organization 10. (11 pages) 
  • The above paper was also presented at the ISKO 9th International conference, July 2006, in Vienna, Austria.
  • Eklund, A., Miksa, S.D., Moen, W.E., Polyakov, S. & Snyder, G. (2009). Comparison of MARC content designation utilization of WorldCat records with National, Core, and Minimal Level Standards. Journal of Library Metadata, 9(1/2), 36-64. (28 pages) 
  • "Informing the Future of MARC: an empirical approach". (Presentation with W.E. Moen), American Library Association Annual Conference, Washington, D.C., June 12-17, 2007.

Library Technology Now (LTN) Project -- Lead Thesaurus Developer, 2003-2007

Partnering with the North Texas Regional Library System (NTRLS) in an endeavor to aid librarians in making decisions about software and hardware products for their library. The thesaurus is created on a theme-by-theme basis (example thesaurus) with the Synaptica Thesaurus Management system and will be used by both contributors as they write reviews of products and by users of the LTN website.

Developing a Bibliometric Methodology for a Comprehensive Measurement of the Intellectual History of Research Fronts, 2002

Funded by New Faculty Research Grant, University of North Texas, 2002-2003. Developing a methodology employing co-citation analysis, bibliometric coupling, and content analysis so that a comprehensive intellectual history of two research fronts can be examined and measured.

Interactivity in Web-based Learning, 2000-2002

  • Florida State University, School of Information Studies, Dr. Kathleen Burnett and Dr. Laurie Bonnici, Principal Investigators
  • A study of interactivity in both synchronous and asynchronous web-based classes. I developed and implemented a content analysis code for coding interactive classroom log files and discussion boards.