We are excited to announce the launch of our new Acquisitions, Description, and Discovery (ADD) Department, effective July 1.
This new department merges our former Acquisitions Unit and Metadata and Technical Services Department, creating a unified team aimed at enhancing discoverability and access to library print and electronic resources.
The creation of ADD is part of the Library's commitment to improving workflows and aligning with the latest advancements in library management systems. These systems have evolved to become comprehensive hubs for data, visualization, and workflow management.
“The formation of ADD has been a long time in the making, having been planned prior to the pandemic, with a pilot occurring as far back as 2016. This last year saw the convergence of the pieces needed for implementation,” says Tiffany Moxham, Deputy University Librarian and Assistant University Librarian for Content and Discovery.
Tiffany continues, “First the arrival of an experienced Director in Darren Furey, several years of ALMA and PRIMO knowledge, a team ready to expand after several years of retirements, and a clearer sense of the next phase of the Library’s collection strategies in relation to electronic, print and digital holdings and as part of a system where transformative agreements and their innate challenges are at the center of the shared resource landscape.”
What does ADD do? ADD manages UCR Library resources from the moment they are purchased until they’re available to patrons. This includes ordering and receiving new books and materials, processing payments, and ensuring these resources can be easily found through UC Library Search. ADD is also responsible for describing and organizing the Library’s digitized collections, making them easily accessible on platforms like Calisphere.
Darren Furey, formerly the UCR Library’s Director of Metadata and Technical Services, now leads ADD as its Director.
“I'm excited to have brought the Acquisitions Unit and the Metadata and Technical Services Department together,” Darren says. “Being one small but mighty team will help facilitate strategic cross-training, some of which is already underway, and it will give acquisitions and metadata staff a greater understanding of each others' responsibilities, needs, and challenges.”
Darren adds, “Together, librarians and staff in ADD are analyzing our current workflows to determine whether they still meet our needs, the needs of other Library departments, and, most importantly, the needs of our users. Everything we do should in some way add value for the students, faculty, and staff who rely on our expertise and ingenuity.”
ADD is in the process of hiring two Metadata Catalogers and an Acquisitions, Description, and Discovery Supervisor. The Metadata Catalogers will handle a variety of materials to ensure resources are accurately cataloged and easily discoverable, while the supervisor position will provide technical expertise and oversee Library Assistants.
Whether you are a student conducting research, a faculty member seeking teaching materials, or a community member exploring our collections, ADD ensures that you can easily find and access the information you need. By optimizing our resource management and discovery processes, we’re enhancing the overall user experience and supporting UCR’s academic and research goals.