ZombieList FAQ

Powered by crowdsourcing, the ZombieList tracks the status and format of core business title’s content, as well as if the source is alive, asleep, lost, or reincarnated.  Has it changed its name or format?  There are about 30,000 titles that have to be reviewed from these sources.

The title of a source comes from a bibliography.

Example of a bibliography: Lavin, M. R. (1992). Business information : how to find it, how to use it (2^nd ed.). Phoenix, Az: Oryx Press.

 

The records in the Zombielist are related to a source or item title2.

Example of a source/item: Standard federal tax reporter (Loose leaf). Chicago, Ill: Commerce Clearing House, c1945- CCH Incorporated, 1994-.

We do this for history.  What are the key sources in business?  What should we preserve?  How far back does it go?  Does this content still exist in another source?  Who owns the rights?

Zombie source is when the content of a source (print or electronic) that had been mentioned in a core bibliographic source has changed its title or format or publisher AND is still available in some form (generally in print or distributed electronic format).  Some sources might have changed their title, format, or publisher, but they are discontinued/asleep or sold but can still be found are also Zombie.  When a source has NOT changed its title, format, or publisher, then that source is still alive, but not a Zombie.  When a source that is mentioned in a bibliography, but can not be found in any format (generally a digital source), then it Lost not a Zombie.

Original, Alive, Sold, Asleep, Zombie, Lost

I see librarians, researchers, archivists, and historians cultivating a culture of awareness when managing heritage collections of business sources by knowing the titles, identifying where preservation copies of those titles reside, and working with monographs and other formats.  It all starts with capturing the core business titles and divulging their status using the ZombieList.

Not at this time.  I want to build up content before we open it up.  Once we have over 50% of the chapters done we can publicize the ZombieList.

We will open the ZombieList on Zotero in a Historic Business Collections page using Zotpress.

 

Jennifer C. Boettcher is the creator and owner of the ZombieList.

ZombieList©Boettcher is a compendium of bibliography metadata with value added by volunteers/contributors putting the metadata in a prescribed structure of Zotero with additional information of where the citation was presented (original source), then augmented by status, and relationships to other records. The ZombieList might evolve to a relational database where others can review the original and Zombied record; include contact information to purchasing access; learn which entry owns the current rights to the dead source; other value-added.

At this time we need put the records into ZombieList.

You can be a contributor and add ZombieList entries.  Or if you want to be an interested party, our “big” announcements will go out over BusHis list, sign up here.  https://list.wrlc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/bushis

Our “big” announcements will go out over the BusHis list; sign up here:  https://list.wrlc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/bushis

The nitty-gritty communications of the contributors we are using the ZombieList Group listserv.

Yes.  This is considered a Digital Scholarship project.  Once you submit ONE complete entry, you are a contributor.  If you complete a whole chapter from a bibliography, then you are an Editor.   Please write your name in the Extra Field so we can keep track of who is contributing to each record.

1) To do this you will have to download Zotero at  https://www.zotero.org.  I’m open to other CMS, but it will have to go into Zotero. Email me so I can add you to the Zotero group ZombieList.

2) Choose which chapter and/or topic you want to claim only those cells with * need you (no more than 3 per cell) from this Sheet

3) Get a copy of the primary source you chose.  If you don’t have one of the business bibliography titles, I suggest you use ILL as these are widely held.

This is an opportunity to learn sources used in business and some cool library tools as well as contributing to historians’ research.

If you are interested to see what it looks like so far (up until August 15, 2019), go to https://www.zotero.org/groups/2338314/zombielist

Most of your time will be spent finding the best records to incorporate into a ZombieList Entry in Zotero or incorporating new records.

It takes around 10 minutes to determine whether a title was still available and 20 minutes to see whether it has moved to a new format.

The older the sources will take longer to find/create an original record and tracking down what happened to it.  You might have to contact the last publisher to confirm it is dead and not sold.

Our “big” announcements will go out over the BusHis list; sign up here:  https://list.wrlc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/bushis

The nitty-gritty communications of the contributors we are using the ZombieList Group listserv.

1) To do this you will have to download  https://www.zotero.org.  I’m open to other CMS, but it will have to go into Zotero. Email me so I can add you to the Zotero group ZombieList.

2) Choose which chapter and/or topic you want to claim only those cells with * need you (no more than 3 per cell) from this Sheet

3) Get a copy of the primary source you chose.  If you don’t have one of the business bibliography titles, I suggest you use ILL, these are widely held.

This is an opportunity to learn sources used in business and contributing to historian’s research and some cool library tools.

If you are interested to see what it looks like so far (up until August 15, 2019), go to https://www.zotero.org/groups/2338314/zombielist

At this point, we are only creating entries for the core business titles and their editions mentioned in these established business bibliographies.

No, the authors of the bibliographies have deemed it important enough to include it which is good enough for me.

If you don’t have a bibliography in your personal collection, then I suggest you get it through ILL.  If you have or know how you can get the bibliography, you can claim a chapter.

Once you are on the worksheet, you can place your name in the cell(s) for the chapters you wish to contribute.  Hint: only choose the chapters/cells for which you have the bibliography in hand or can readily obtain.

Yes, but… you would not get the “credit” for a full entry.  A full entry is the name of an original source, sequential sources, AND the most current related source.  However, you might want to start by putting in the original source then go back to complete the entry.  If you want to partner with someone: you may enter the original source (cataloging skills are needed to create a good record) and someone else may investigate its fate.  Remember to put your name in the Extra Field.

No, at this time are we are not doing a title, not in any of the above bibliographies.  I would like to keep to the core business bibliographies.  Once we open the ZombieList in 2020, we will take suggestions through a Google form.  Keep them on hand.  You can also check the bibliographies and see if it’s listed in those, then you can do it.

Many fields make a record.  In this example Title is a field. The different fields make up the bibliographic record.

To understand what fields are in Zotero record for each item type go here. https://www.zotero.org/support/kb/item_types_and_fields

 

All Journals use the Book Item record anyway. Cite the journal as the source, but in the Note field give the special issue details.  See Survey of Buying Power.  The SMM may show up in another source, but I was working on the Survey of Buying Power Data Service from Lavin (1987).

Our “big” announcements will go out over the BusHis list; sign up here:  https://list.wrlc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/bushis

The nitty-gritty communications of the contributors we are using the ZombieList Group listserv.

If you feel better using EndNote, RefWorks, Procite, Mendeley, F1000, or another reference/citation manager software (CMS), then use it to collect the citations to the sources.  Subsequently, you will be responsible to move those titles into Zotero, so we will have one place to search the ZombieList.  Beware that not all fields will export into Zotero, so don’t create more work for yourself.

• To export your EndNote library for use in Zotero, click “File” and then “Export.” Set the output style to “RefMan (RIS) Export” and save it as a text file.
• To export your Mendeley library, select all your sources, then click “File,” then “Export.”
• To export your RefWorks library, select the “Share & Export” button and “Export References.”

In Zotero, click “File” and choose “Import.” The new references will be added to a collection named “Imported” followed by the date and time.

There is no “Item type” for journals and serials in Zotero, so we have to use Book and enter an ISBN instead of an ISSN.  Zotero does have a Journal Article type, but it is not for the journal, just the article.   I have complained. https://forums.zotero.org/profile/comments/385/Boettcher .  Please add your request for this too.

Book and Serial

Required: Item type, Title, Publisher, Copyright date, Date added, Date modified, Status tags

If provided:  Creator, Edition, Place, Catalog record came from, ISSN or ISBN, Rights (for last), Notes, Source tags, Related

 

Website (free)

Required:  Item type, Title, URL, Website Type, Rights (for publisher), Date accessed, Date added, Date modified, Status tags

If provided: Author, Website title, Notes, Source tag, Related

 

Computer Program (library subscription service)

Required: Item type, Title, URL (for purchase), Rights (for publisher) Date accessed, Date added, Date modified, Status tags

If provided: Programmer, Series, ISBN, Library Catalog, Call numbers, Notes, Source tag. Related

There is a computer client app that you download to your computer and there is a web-based interface that sync to each other: Computer client and web client.

There is a computer client app that you download to your computer and there is a web-based interface that sync to each other: Computer client and web client.

Yes, it can be confusing.  There are TWO ZombieList documents that sync with each other.  No worries.  I only use the computer client for managing the Group.   I have found it is easier to work in the computer client app.

There is the Folder ZombieList and the Collections sub-folders.  The Collections pane is on the left.

All records/Library in the whole ZombieList will remain in the middle pane.

All edits of the records are done on the right pane,

How do I add a record to the ZombieList?

https://www.zotero.org/support/getting_stuff_into_your_library

I found using the web browser easier in adding records, than using the computer client.

Northwestern University has great guidance.

http://libguides.northwestern.edu/zotero/sync

I suggest you look at catalogs from your library, the Library of Congress, WorldCat, etc.  I love the catalogers at Cornell and New York City Public Library  and Harvard for their historic notes.  Once you find the good record capture/add it.  Remember if the source changed its title or formats or publisher please capture those records too.  GPO and Alma catalogs do NOT work well with Zotero.  If you do create a unique record remember to put your name in the Library Catalog line.  For the most current source, might only be found by searching the web (not a library catalog) by the last know title of the source.  Option: I capture all the records that I can find and create one good record.

It will work with Mac, Windows, and Linux. https://www.zotero.org/support/installation

You can also download the Zotero client https://www.zotero.org/download/

Basic info https://www.zotero.org/support/quick_start_guide

Check that you have completed the following:

1) You found/created the original record for the earliest title for the item you found in core business bibliography.

2) You have added the –Status: to tag in the original record and added –Status: in all sequential records.

3) You have added .Source: to tag for the ONE record you found in the bibliography

4) You have linked all Related records.

Now do the following:

A) Remove all the loaded records you did not relate.

B) Identify to which Collection the source belongs: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1lzQh5TfXfRAFtnLeV_U5EiMsuoMlxuubEMd6hRlyd4g/edit#gid=1040795128

C) Drag the relevant records to the correct collection.

In the ZombieList we are using the Note Field for abstracts, instructions to register, and any other information you want to share.  The notes field in the last version might have the confirmation of its status with an article, website, or email regarding the source.

When the ZombieList entry is complete you put it the Collection in the left column.

Collections allow hierarchical organization of items into sub-folders of Zotero. The same item can belong to multiple collections in your library at the same item. https://www.zotero.org/support/collections_and_tags

ZombieList records will always use the Tag Field for the Status and Source: the dash for  –Status: and dot for .Status: .  Status tags always use -Status: : Original, Alive, Asleep, Sold, Lost, or Zombie. Note: a record can have Zombie in addition to a Live, Asleep, or Sold, if the source had changed its title, format, or status.  When a source has NOT changed its title, format, or publisher, then that source is still alive, but not a Zombie.

Source tags always use .Source: . Whenever the item is mentioned in a core bibliographic give the record a source tag.  At least one of the records in ZombieList entry should have a .Source: tag.  Only add a Source tag if when the item is mention in the bibliography you are using.

The Tag Field might also contain LC Subjects.

This is the POWER of the ZombieList. To create a relation, select an item in the center pane and go to the “Related” tab of the right pane.  Then create your relationship chain.

For example, it all started as the Federal Tax Service [a] in 1913; then it became the Standard Federal Tax Record- SFTR [b] (1917-1985). The SFTR then became part of IntelliConnect [c] then Cheetah [d] is the current reanimation record.

In Zotero, you can state A is related B, but you cannot state A,B,C,D are all related.  Which means a record for all four titles and link them with chains like A is related B, then B is related to A and B is related to C and it is up to the user to follow the chain putting it all together.

Note:

• The Related option is ONLY in the Zotero computer client app, not the web-based.
• When you relate item A to B, B will be automatically related to A.
• In the ZombieList, no other items go in the Related Fields.

I found that it is easier to edit fields using the Client app.  Put your mouse over the item you want to edit and click to edit, then just edit and hit enter.

Use the Computer Program item type for fee-based databases, since this item type has a publisher field. Use the Web-based item type for free online sources.

In the ISBN field; Zotero does not have an item record for journals.

If you can improve the entry, contact the contributor or a ZombieList administer for permission to alter the entry.  We are tracking contributions for purposes of ownership.

All Zotero records for a title mentioned in at least one of the core bibliographies; there should be the oldest know title, sequential titles, and the last possible version.  We are capturing the content of a source (print or electronic) that had been mentioned in a core bibliography. that has changed its title, format, or publisher. The records might have the status of original, alive, asleep, sold, lost, or zombie.  When a source has NOT changed its title, format, or publisher, then that source is still alive, but not a Zombie, however, it still is a ZombieList entry.

For the original and sequential records, I suggest you look at catalogs that are compatible with Zotero (downloads subject fields).   I love the catalogers at New York City Public Library  and Harvard  and  Cornell for their historic notes.  Once you find the best record capture/add it.  WorldCat, LoC, and some ALMA catalogs give great information, but they don’t transfer to Zotero well.

My process is to capture all the records that I can find related to the title then create one unique record.  FEEL FREE to edit the records in Zotero.  If you edit a ZombieList record, please ADD your name to the Extra field.

For the last possible version, I suggest you look on the web to see if the title is still for sale (Alive), or changed its publisher (Sold) or changed its name or format (Zombie).  WorldCat might give you the last published version (Asleep if still held).  Beware; there are a lot of Asleep or Zombies and Alives that may not be in Catalogs.

Yes, in my Georgetown University Box account.  If you want to back it up too,  let me know: boettcher@georgetown.edu

Asleep might be considered dead, out of date, not continued, defunct, static, but it is in a format (print, CD-ROM, disk, etc) that is sitting on a shelf waiting for someone take it out.

Most items will be Asleep because they still exist in some physical format.  –Status: Lost means it was born-digital but can NOT be found in response to a request.  We are building the ZombieList in hopes that someone will be keeping the source in a physical format or save it as a file somewhere.  There are some sources that can’t be found in a library or retrieved by the publisher, but we know they existed because they were included in one of our bibliographies.  That source would be Lost.

It is tough to prove a negative.  Although a title last showed up in WorldCat 10 years ago, this does not mean that this source is dead.  Search online for news of the sources.  For example, I discovered that Collier’s Encyclopedia sold its content to Microsoft Encarta and found another article from which I learned that Encarta is no longer being updated as of 2009 but it is still being sold.  In this situation, I confirm who owns the rights and that it is not adding supporting materials. I put a link to the proof of the Asleep status in the Notes field. I put –Status: Asleep in the Tag field.   If the status is not definitive, contact the last known publisher and ask for confirmation that the title is currently owned by them and that they have no plans to use the content in a current or future product.  Remember, we are looking for the status of the content, not just the name.

When reaching out to a publisher to confirm status here is my text:  “Hello, I’m looking to identify the status and current format of this title https://www.cengage.com/search/productOverview.do?N=197&Ntk=P_EPI&Ntt=1195668151722511439812555965163953578&Ntx=mode%2Bmatchallpartial

Can I call it Asleep (no further editions), Alive (plans to update it), or change in format (the content is represented in another product)?

Thank you,

Jennifer”

YES, don’t forget to look in the PEGI project https://www.pegiproject.org and GPO Stewardship https://www.fdlp.gov/about-the-fdlp/partnerships for status and Notes (about) fields.

If the GPO bibliographic catalog records can’t download into Zotero, use the Library of Congress or find a regional Federal Depository and use their catalog to capture bibliographic records.

This will happen.  Find the first edition of the source (may not be the one mentioned in the bibliography).  Copy that record in Zotero, then find all the other major changes ot the source (different titles or formats) and capture those records too.  For the original and sequential records, I suggest you look at catalogs from your library, Library of Congress, WorldCat, New York Public Library, etc.  Once you find the best record, capture/add it.  Sometimes I capture all the records that I can find and create one good record.  If you do create your own unique record, remember to use your name in the Library Catalog line.

Capture the changes (name, format, or publisher) sequentially in different records, link them through the Related field in Zotero and put each variation in the correct Collection sub-folder.  There is no need to capture the records for each new edition unless there were significant changes.

Yes. But remember to use the Related record field. To create a relation, select an item in the center pane and go to the “Related” tab of the right pane.  Then create your relationship chain.

For example: “It all started as the Federal Tax Service [a] in 1913; then it became the Standard Federal Tax Record- SFTR [b] (1917-1985). The SFTR then became part of IntelliConnect [c] then Cheetah [d] is the current reanimation record.”

In Zotero, you can state that A is related B, but you cannot state that A, B, C and D are all related.  Thus, you must link these with chains like A is related B,  B is related to C, etc.

Note:

• The Related option is ONLY in the Zotero computer client app, not the web-based version.
• When you relate item A to B, B will be automatically related to A.
• In the ZombieList, no other items go in the Related Fields.

We are not taking suggestions at this time.  I would like to keep to the core business bibliographies.  Once we open the ZombieList in 2020, we will take suggestions through a Google form.  Keep them on hand.  You can also check the bibliographies and see if it’s listed in of those.

If you can improve the entry, contact the contributor or a ZombieList administrator.  If it is a minor edit (spelling, adding a field, etc.) no need to seek approval.  Please remember to add your name to the Extra Field box to reflect your contribution.

Zotero – https://www.zotero.org/groups/2338314/zombielist

Google Sheets – https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1lzQh5TfXfRAFtnLeV_U5EiMsuoMlxuubEMd6hRlyd4g/edit#gid=0

WordPress – https://boettcher.georgetown.domains/HisBusColl

WP Zotpress – https://wordpress.org/plugins/zotpress/

WorldCat is a great tool to see if there were earlier or later editions for a given  source.  Sometimes WorldCat gives you the history of the source/title,  BUT if you use Open WorldCat, Zotero does not capture its subject heading fields.  WorldCat Firstsearch or WebJunction accounts will let you capture the subject heading fields, but usage might be monitored by your library.

Open to Contributors, August 1, 2019

We will open the ZombieList on Zotero in a Historic Business Collections page.  We will use a public interface to generate interest and host the Zotero interface for now- there is a plugin for WordPress and Zotero https://wordpress.org/plugins/zotpress. Publicizing the project over the many listservs it should generate additional volunteers and sources.

Open the ZombieList – to everyone, when 50% DONE.

Open to suggestions when 75% done.

Yes.  This is considered a Digital Scholarship project.  Once you submit ONE complete entry, you are a contributor.  If you complete a whole chapter from a bibliography, then you are an Editor.   Please write your name in the Extra Field so we can keep track of who is contributing to each record.

2009- 2010 – Working with other business Librarians, led by Ann Cullen, I checked the status of the sources listed in Strauss’s Handbook of Business Information: A Guide for Librarians, Students, and Researchers (Libraries Unlimited, 1988).  I have the results stored in an Excel database for over 700 titles.

2011 – I saw a need for confirming the status of a title while weeding Georgetown University Lauinger Library’s Reference Collection.

2012- I wrote a proposal for an Emerald Research Grant to fund the creation and development of the ZombieList.

2013-  I was awarded an Emerald Research Grant for the “Zombie List”, for which I received a research grant from ALA RUSA. (rusa.ala.org/blog/2013/05/13/2013-rusa-brass-emerald-research-grant).  As of 2019, the award money is still available in my bank account and can be used to further the development of the ZombieList if or when I need it.

2015- I approached a company about the possibility of incorporating the ZombieList into a commercial product.  We discussed this and I gave him a model.  We had follow-up discussions on this for months.

2016- I presented “Jennifer C. Boettcher, Greg Fleming, and Judith Nixon. The Future of Older Data: Zombie List, Moody’s, Corporate Annual Reports (ARSs)” at the Beyond the Numbers Conference on October 6-8, 2016 at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, MO.  While there, I connected with an interested business librarian at the Library of Congress.

2016- I created a Community in ALA Connect to organize people who are interested in the ZombieList.

2017- Ultimately, the publisher suggested that I work with another publisher. I showed them a flow chart for the idea.  Eventually, both said they didn’t have time to work on it at present.

2017- My contact at LC and I exchanged emails. This exchange ended with a suggestion included the use of the LC catalog, which has open records that can be used to populate the ZombieList.

2018- I learned from Scholarly Trust/Rosemont/PAPR CRL about preserving historical serial collections.  They said that if I can come up with a list, then they can coordinate with other repositories to maintain some copies of the core business resources if I can give them the titles generated from the ZombieList.

2018- I learned about the Preservation of Electronic Government Information (PEGI) Project at ALA Conference.  About 40% of the titles from the Strauss book are government sources.

2018 – There was a call to established business librarians to update the core sources since this was last done by Rita Moss in 2012.  Ultimately, Libraries Unlimited did not want a group to do it, but just one person.  No one had the time to do it all, but those 13 people are still interested in contributing.

2018- I talked with Michelle Trumbo from the Legal Information Preservation Alliance (LIPA) and realized that, in a larger sense, the preservation and coordination of repositories are beyond my time and energy.  I also talked to the founder of LIPA, Margaret Maes, about how she started LIPA and realized that I was going to have to develop a team, start small and not take on the preservation of items but rather concentrate on developing the repositories.

2018- I presented a workshop: “Jennifer Boettcher and Courtney Butler. What Can We Do About Preserving Business Sources?” at the Beyond the Numbers Conference, November 7-9, 2018 at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, MO.  There, we discussed numerous media in addition to print serials. Attendees were very excited when they heard about the ZombieList.

2019- I presented: “Jennifer C. Boettcher. Call to Action: Historical Business Collections” at the Academic Business Library Directors Meeting, April 16-19, 2019 at Harvard Business School, Boston, MA.

2019- Jennifer C. Boettcher Decided to dedicate time to the ZombieList from my 2019 Professional Leave.