> This is obviously not very well set up for machine processing,
> espcially since the need for a 490/830 combination could (and does)
> occur at a later point, resulting in a lot of bother for everyone,
> which is why LC doesn't do it anymore. The same issue is present in
> 245 versus 130 or 240 situations, only never truly addressed by the
> rules or cooperative cataloging system. For futuristic thinking, the
> theoretical issues go back to FRBR (given the way that publishers
> cavalierly create and destroy them, are series actually "works"? )
> and the cost of authority control (can we set up pointers/URI's for
> these slippery things?).
>
For a public library, series access is very useful. Most staff members
are aware of the shortcomings in the catalogue (because of the poor
handling of series numbering, series order is guessed at by the
publication date in our title result screens, for example). The recent
LC decision to abandon series control has not won any fans here.
Novelist is popular, especially its series search function. I would
expect the same level of bibliographic utility out of our catalogue. So
that would mean thinking of many series as works, as FRBR entities that
have relationships with other entities such as authors and the
constituent works.
The ideal scenario? When a user click a series link or searches for a
series they are shown a full-blown web page focused on that series (not
an index and not a browse list) with general authority-derived
information about that series presented. A title list of the library's
holdings appears AND users have the option of tapping into enriched
content, perhaps from Novelist, where all the series data is presented
(useful if we have missing titles, or there are upcoming additions).
Maybe clicking on missing titles from the enriched content will launch
ILL forms or suggested purchase forms or links to WorldCat or to online
booksellers. Or maybe the user wants to set up an RSS feed from that web
page dedicated to the series so that notification of a new addition to
our holdings is immediately sent out.
To do all that requires thinking of series (slippery though they can be
at times) as full-blown entities that serve specific bibliographic
functions.
Thomas Brenndorfer, B.A, M.L.I.S.
Guelph Public Library
100 Norfolk St.
Guelph, ON
N1H 4J6
(519) 824-6220 ext. 276
tbrenndorfer_at_library.guelph.on.ca
Received on Tue May 15 2007 - 12:32:43 EDT