Jonathan,
This is nuanced, so hopefully I don't butcher it, but...
I really like the idea of using URIs for authorities, rather than
"Smith, John."
A user might be able to navigate to that URI and see a web page
representing a certain, specific author, but to the machine that URI
is simply a piece of metadata identifying that author.
The URI would open the door to the creation of author records, but
that's another can of worms...
Don't mistake me though, I'm all for authority control and good
metadata.
--Casey
On May 14, 2007, at 5:46 PM, Jonathan Rochkind wrote:
> I said this before, but I'll say it again. I know what you mean,
> Thomas,
> but please don't say that "authorities should morph into web
> pages". An
> authority record is _data_ (or metadata, anyway), a web page is a
> _particular presentation_. We can not replace authority work
> "with web
> pages".
>
> But we CAN and I agree our systems SHOULD be producing interfaces like
> you talk about. So the question is how we do that, if the authority
> data we have now is sufficient to support that interface, what
> feasible
> changes can or should be made to our authority control pratices to
> better support that sort of interface, and other sorts of flexible
> interfaces we want to provide. We DO need authority data that will
> support that kind of interface. We don't get that by "making web
> pages"
> though. The web pages are the result of good metadata practices, they
> are a product.
>
> We need authority control processes that support multiple flexible
> interfaces by NOT assuming any one particular interface. Not a card
> catalog, and not one particular kind of web page either. And 'a web
> page' is certainly not a substitute for an authority control practice!
> So I know what you mean, but please stop saying that! It only makes
> people who think you DO mean it scared that you are trying to
> dismantle
> authority control, which seems to be the response anytime anyone
> brings
> up modernization ideas.
>
> Jonathan
Casey Bisson
__________________________________________
Information Architect
Plymouth State University
Plymouth, New Hampshire
http://maisonbisson.com/blog/
ph: 603-535-2256
Received on Mon May 14 2007 - 19:16:34 EDT