Re: Authority maintenance (was Subject costs)

Allen Mullen suggested using a wiki to set up an authority file for
series. I agree that we badly need some better form of authority control
for series. Yesterday (Thursday) I attended a class on using blogs. The
instructor (Michael Sauer, Technology Innovation Librarian at the
Nebraska Library Commission -- his blog is:
http://www.travelinlibrarian.info ) pointed out two very interesting
uses of blogs.

This first one is from Lamson Library, Plymouth State Library. It is a
library catalog that is somehow run through a blog:
http://lamson.wpopac.com/library/read/219038

This is from a historical society and local library. It has historic
pictures and some information. Again it uses blogging software (in a
much more obvious way):
http://westernspringshistory.org/

So, could we use a blog to do an authority file for series? It would
allow for controlled entries by registered authors (who would be
identified and signed) and more open comments by others. It just might
provide enough structure and control to do what we want. Is it
worthwhile setting up and seeing how it works? Of course, unlike data in
MARC format, exporting and importing to a system would be a total bear,
but at least it would be a place you could check on series authority
info and could still copy and paste.

Does this seem feasible? I'd be willing to help out in setting it up but
I would not have time to do maintenance or set up on my own.

Deirdre

Deirdre Routt
Technical Services Manager
Omaha Public Library
215 S 15 St
Omaha NE 68102
(402) 444-4997
droutt_at_omahapubliclibrary.org
-----Original Message-----


Date:    Thu, 24 May 2007 08:01:39 -0700
From:    MULLEN Allen <Allen.MULLEN_at_CI.EUGENE.OR.US>
Subject: Re: Authority maintenance (was Subject costs)

Ed Speer raises some very pertinent questions regarding maintenance of
authority data.  In addition to discussing these, I'd suggest some
action on the part of the cataloging community.

There is an opportunity now to demonstrate that a collective social
network of librarians can develop and maintain an authority data set for
the series work that LC is no longer doing and that PCC libraries have
not addressed beyond series they encounter if and when these libraries
want to trace them (for those PCC libraries that choose to trace series
- some, like LC, have decided not to) or that libraries feed to them (if
the PCC library staff are open to it and have the resources to do this
work on behalf of other libraries).  Clearly, there is a perceived need
among catalogers and, in public libraries at least, among reference
staff.

I'd like to suggest that a wiki might be constructed in such a way that
library staff (and others if they are interested) can enter and edit
data fields for series authority data.  The idea is that anyone can
contribute a new heading but that the collective wisdom and knowledge of
those who know how to construct and document AACR2 series name headings
and tracings would maintain the integrity of the data.  There is a need
- I construct new series headings several times a week when they are not
on an OCLC record at all or are in a 490 0  field.

This (or some variant that is technically possible) could be a model,
albeit with all of the attendant committees and task forces and policies
and papers that such weighty matters require in the cataloging world (as
well as an enhanced "control" factor that Ed Speer aptly points out is
necessary), for maintenance of LCSH if and when LC ever lessens or
relinquishes its commitment to maintenance of the vocabulary.

However, I'm ignorant enough that the technical question of whether said
data in a wiki setting could be constructed in such a way to allow
export of MARC in a format that can be readily imported into a library
ILS is possible.  I'm guessing it is but those of you who are export.
Certainly, the control fields might be a challenge.

If it is possible, let's do it whether it is sanctioned by NACO, ALCTS,
OCLC or anyone else.  If it is useful, it flies - if not, it crashes and
some other solution to the lack of reliable ongoing series authority
maintenance for collective use is developed (or, as the case is now, is
not).  Is protestation and a return to individual library
decision-making all that catalogers are capable of when faced with
changes that lessen what gets handed to them on a tarnished silver
platter?  I don't think so - don't mourn, organize to take
responsibility for what is deemed important.

Allen Mullen
who is willing to devote some time off-work to helping develop and
maintain such a system

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