The hope is to gradually introduce BIBFRAME alongside maintaining traditional MARC workflows in a hybrid environment - then evaluate tools and LD editors & automated conversion pipelines ahead of larger scale adoption #bfwe2026

Brandeis has developed a roadmap for implementation: they are currently in the exploration phase, training staff in RDF concepts and Sinopia before launching a pilot phase where they will identify a specific collection for BIBFRAME cataloguing #bfwe2026

There is a need to evaluate legacy MARC21 records to ensure that older, pre-RDA records are upgraded ahead of BIBFRAME transformation. #bfwe2026

Joanna recommends a targeted BIBFRAME pilot on distinct high-value collections and thinking about Hybrid Metadata Pipeline that will leverage automated MARC-to-BIBFRAME transformation tools #bfwe2026

Larger teams have more time to do testing on different Linked Data Editors to see which will best fit desired workflows. Whilst a smaller team can be more agile (fewer people to train on something new) there are real capacity issues for adopting new things alongside day-to-day operations #bfwe2026

There is a community-driven support ecosystem such as the PCC Sinopia Affinity Group, the LD4 Community Working Groups and BIBFRAME Interoperability Group (BIG) #bfwe2026

There's also a need to get cross-departmental engagement so that non-metadata and non-cataloguers across the library buy-in to the change #bfwe2026

Cultivating staff interest and competencies requires access to controlled sandbox environments for hands-on experimentation - for some staff the learning curve feels very steep, and there is real fear about the change #bfwe2026

Integration has to be incremental and gradual - a dual track workflow - balancing operational outputs without burnout is a challenge #bfwe2026

We have to think about production continuity - sustaining MARC21 cataloguing for daily acquisitions alongside competency development that shifts mindset to graph-based linked data concepts in BIBFRAME #bfwe2026

"Bridging the Gap: Implementing BIBFRAME in Small-
Staff Environments" with Joanna M. Fuchs, Brandeis University.
Shifting from MARC21 to BIBFRAME presents hurdles for smaller metadata or cataloguing teams, even in an English-speaking, Global North context.
#bfwe2026

Coordinated translation of the vocabulary structured as a living glossary for community feedback - the community has to own it - the cataloguer has to be able to look at the model, understand the vocabulary, and work with it in practice #bfwe2026

Hands on examples and tools - making BIBFRAME practical rather than theoretical - this is what landed best with attendees of the training. #bfwe2026

BIBFRAME Sin Miedo = BIBFRAME Without Fear
Starting with a diagnosis, taking apart a MARC record to find the elements, entities and relationships as they map to BIBFRAME model. #bfwe2026

Yale did not want to approach the training as 'delivering knowledge' to Latin America but as a 'collaboration' to share expertise, tools and training techniques that could be adaptable to the needs of colleagues in Latin America #bfwe2026

Training workshops were delivered using a gradual learning curve. The idea was build on participants existing knowledge, but challenges arose over semantic differences that can cause misunderstandings - technical concepts do not always mean the same across borders #bfwe2026

Alvaro supported Yale staff with delivering a BIBFRAME workshop in Spanish, the translation methodology used baseline auto-translations of ontology labels that required review by native speakers - a glossary was proposed that can be contributed to by Spanish-speaking communities #bfwe2026

It also favours more integration and resource-sharing for libraries, rather than siloed & individualised working that essentially duplicates effort #bfwe2026

Linked Data means greater visibility of collections; this is important for Latin American libraries to connect regional resources to users who would otherwise never encounter them #bfwe2026

Alvaro speaks to the Latin American perspective: small metadata teams with limited training opportunities & resources, budget constraints & uneven infrastructure with different levels of technological readiness - also a preference for open tools & shared infrastructure #bfwe2026