Double-Checking Existing Access Points in Bibliographic Records
- Dunlap, Jennifer
(DRAFT IN PROGRESS)
Connexion
When working in Connexion the cataloger should attempt to control any uncontrolled names. It is not uncommon to find uncontrolled name (personal, corporate body, family, conference, etc.), name-title, series, or uniform title access points that do have an authorized form. Often, uncontrolled names (personal names in particular) will control. For any name access points that do not control, the cataloger should check to see if an authorized form of the name does exist in the NAF (not uncommon in older records or K level records). If an unqualified personal name can be controlled make sure that the name in question IS the correct "John Smith" for the resource in hand.
Searching: Command Line, Browse Authority File, & Authorities Search
Command Line
OCLC provides an excellent overview of the various command searching options, which includes various useful derived searches as well.
NAR searching tips:
In Connexion, try browsing names in the authority search box on the command line.
Try leaving out first names in a keyword search, as names may be established by usage in unexpected languages (which can affect the spelling of a first name) or with an initial. Be aware also that names can be transliterated differently if they originate in Greek, Russian, Georgian, CJK, etc. Try several spelling possibilities.
If you are certain of birth to death dates, try just searching a date range, like 1840-1893 for Tchaikovsky, which can be transliterated in a huge variety of ways:
Houghton catalogers are often faced with initials, particularly with former owners. Initials present a particularly problematic searching situation: try browsing initials in the NAR in direct order, as keyword searching initials can return dauntingly large results. Leave a space between initials, but no space after colon:
Sca pn:A. B.
Page down carefully through date ranges, to active dates, to $q (fuller form of names), through $c (other words associated with a name), until you reach additional initials (for example, A. B. A.) to insure that you haven’t missed a pre-existing AR for your heading.
If you are unsure about how your heading should best be constructed, helpful resources can be found here:
VIAF, the Virtual International Authority File. If the NAF doesn’t have your name, sometimes other authorities might. Be aware that other cataloging agencies may follow different cataloging rules.
For more instructions in creating headings:
NACO participants’ manual
Descriptive Cataloging Manual Z1
The RDA Toolkit also includes extensive information about creating headings.
When you encounter a title in translation, it is important to include a preferred title in a 240 or a 130 with a $l in the bib record. For more information, consult the PCC training guide for describing works and expressions.
Browse Authority
Browse Authority is left-anchored and most beneficial for “surname, X” searches. This can be especially helpful for common names and is easy to navigate. It is also often the quickest way to sort through authorized name-title access points for *most* authors.
Authorities Search
This search option casts a wider net since it allows for more advanced searching and truncation (using * symbol). It is particularly useful for searching uniform titles, series titles, corporate bodies, complex personal names (like those with royal or ecclesiastical titles, titles of nobility, etc.), persons known by a phrase, etc.