Authority control

Authority control in a library environment is the establishment and maintenance of consistent forms of names and terms to be used as authorized access points in records of the library catalog. Authorized access points must not only be consistent, each one must be unique. Traditional library practice focused on controlling names (personal, corporate, governmental, and geographic), works, and subjects. While authority control has always been important for library catalogs, with the growth of new environments of linked data it is becoming even more, with increasing elements in the catalog being represented by authorized forms. (One example: using authorized terms for occupations in authority records.)

Authority control at the Folger

The Folger is a member of NACO and SACO, coordinated by Deborah J. Leslie. For the NACO training schedule and workflows, see NACO training.

Terminology

control

to link an instance of an authorized access point to its authority record

AAP

authorized access point (formerly, and sometimes still, known as heading)

BFM

bibliographic file maintenance

LC/NACO Authority File

the authority file maintained by the Library of Congress in collaboration with the PCC

NACO

Name Authority Cooperative Program; component of the PCC for name authorities

NAF

name authority file

NAR

name authority record

PCC

Program for Cooperative Cataloging

PVR

previously verified record; (used in the context of changes made to existing NARs)

SACO

Subject Authority Cooperative Program; component of the PCC for subject authority records

SAR

subject authority record

VIAF

Virtual International Authority File