Authority control: Difference between revisions

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Authority control in a library environment is the establishment and maintenance of consistent forms of names and terms to be used as controlled access points (also called ''headings'') in records of the library catalog. Controlled access points must not only be consistent, they must be unique. Traditional library practice focused on controlling names (personal, corporate, governmental, and geographic), titles, 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. (For example: using authorized terms for occupations in authority records.)
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 [[user:DeborahLeslie | Deborah J. Leslie]]. For the NACO training schedule and workflows, see [http://bard2.folger.edu/Cataloging_and_Metadata_training#NACO_training NACO training].


==Terminology==
==Terminology==
; control : to link an instance of an access point to its authority record
; control : to link an instance of an authorized access point to its authority record
; BFM : Bibliographic File Maintenance
; 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
; LC/NACO Authority File : the authority file maintained by the Library of Congress in collaboration with the PCC
; NACO : [http://www.loc.gov/aba/pcc/naco/ Name Authority Cooperative Program of the Program for Cooperative Cataloging]. Component of the Program for Cooperative Catalog (PCC) that focuses on name authority records.
; NACO : [http://www.loc.gov/aba/pcc/naco/ Name Authority Cooperative Program]; component of the PCC for name authorities
; NAF : name authority file
; NAF : name authority file
; NAR : name authority record  
; NAR : name authority record  
; PCC : [http://www.loc.gov/aba/pcc/ Program for Cooperative Cataloging]
; PVR : previously verified record; (used in the context of changes made to existing NARs)
; SACO : [http://www.loc.gov/aba/pcc/saco/ Subject Authority Cooperative Program]; component of the PCC for subject authority records
; SAR : subject authority record
; SAR : subject authority record
; VIAF : [http://viaf.org/ Virtual International Authority File]
; VIAF : [http://viaf.org/ Virtual International Authority File]

Revision as of 18:21, 4 December 2014

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