Sample interview questions: Have you ever conducted a retrospective conversion project? If so, what challenges did you encounter and how did you overcome them?
Sample answer:
Yes, I have conducted a retrospective conversion project in the past. The project involved converting bibliographic records from a legacy card catalog to a digital format. The transition was to improve the accessibility and discoverability of the library’s collection.
Challenges Encountered:
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Data Accuracy: The legacy card catalog contained numerous bibliographic records with errors, omissions, and inconsistencies. For instance, many records lacked publication dates, ISBNs, and subject headings.
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Time Constraints: The project had a strict deadline, which posed a significant challenge due to the extensive number of records that needed to be converted.
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Limited Resources: The project had limited financial and human resources, which made it difficult to hire additional staff or purchase specialized software for the conversion process.
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Lack of Automation: The legacy card catalog was not automated, making it challenging to extract data efficiently. We had to rely on manual data entry, which was time-consuming and prone to errors.
How I Overcame the Challenges:
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Data Cleanup: To address the data accuracy issues, we implemented a rigorous data cleanup process. We manu… Read full answer
Source: https://hireabo.com/job/18_0_11/Technical%20Services%20Librarian