[Evergreen-catalogers] should we spend money on authority control?

Wed Oct 27 15:50:50 EDT 2021

Thank you Elaine! This is a very weak part of EVG, and I appreciate you speaking up so clearly about the need for better authority control and targeted cross referencing.

Hoorah!

Laurie O’Connor, Cataloger and Oral History

Harney County Library

80 West D Street

Burns, OR 97720

541-573-6670

laurie at harneycountylibrary.org <mailto:laurie at harneycountylibrary.org>  

From: Evergreen-catalogers [mailto:evergreen-catalogers-bounces at list.evergreen-ils.org] On Behalf Of Elaine Hardy via Evergreen-catalogers
Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2021 7:41 AM
To: Evergreen Community Catalogers <evergreen-catalogers at list.evergreen-ils.org>
Subject: Re: [Evergreen-catalogers] should we spend money on authority control?

PINES does have a vendor that does authority work. However, I believe it is suspended because of issues with Evergreen authority control. I am not the lead on this so I am not certain of all the issues. I do know that headings don't update properly and that duplicates are created.

I would also like to see cross referencing in all searches and not just browse.

I think there is value in updating headings regularly, particular since LC is beginning to make changes to update outdated, offensive, and inaccurate headings. While glacially slow, they are making some changes (Two examples: Evacuation and relocation, 1942-1945 changed to Forced removal and internment, 1942-1945  for Japanese -- Canada, Japanese American, etc.  And Tulsa Race Riot to Tulsa Race Massacre)

While we have not done a complete formal document, the cataloging interest group and catalogers in general have communicated to developers what we need in an authority file. We did have a running list some years ago on our wiki and have commented extensively in conference sessions about authority control in Evergreen. There are also a number of bug reports. All of which is not a substitute for development specifications but we haven't been silent about the issues we see and what we need. 

I think the lack of effective and robust authority control prevents many libraries from choosing Evergreen as their ILS, particularly large academics and research institutions. 

  <https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/bpjlHkZIWY-VYFVLNA9ro5_6N4c7AxtzAPQhhzTKXaM1luxXME10aRo56LngwgoMXQ-OptUpmewQo8ljPZNpd7H2nZx09Xns4m_RVJ6D7NoWhha3cHDFxXExYWy2c7E0qfs3M5WC> 

J. Elaine Hardy, PINES and Collaborative Projects Manager

  _____  

Georgia Public Library Service

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(404) 235-7128 | ehardy at georgialibraries.org <mailto:ehardy at georgialibraries.org> 

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On Wed, Oct 27, 2021 at 8:42 AM Kate Coleman via Evergreen-catalogers <evergreen-catalogers at list.evergreen-ils.org <mailto:evergreen-catalogers at list.evergreen-ils.org> > wrote:

That's a great suggestion, Rogan. I'll bring it up to the Cataloging group and see if we can get the ball rolling.

Non-thread topic, I love Sanderson and this series has been on my TBR list for ages. I'm an audiobook reader, though, and I don't like the narrator of this series, so I'm finally making a point to reading actual words. LOL Love me some epic fantasy!

Kate Coleman, MLIS

Technical Services Manager, Jefferson County Library

Missouri Evergreen Consortium 

5678 State Rd. PP
High Ridge, MO 63049
636-677-8689
Fax: 636--677-1769
kcoleman at jeffcolib.org <mailto:kcoleman at jeffcolib.org> 

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On Wed, Oct 27, 2021 at 7:31 AM Rogan Hamby <rogan.hamby at equinoxoli.org <mailto:rogan.hamby at equinoxoli.org> > wrote:

This is an area we could definitely use squeaky wheels in, including documenting in launchpad desired behaviors.  Maybe this is something the cataloging working group would want to take up?  If the desired end results were well documented that would provide a foundation for an institution that wanted to push for it.  

Also, on a non-thread related topic I noticed in your signature that you're reading Way of Kings.  I hope you enjoy it, I have really enjoyed the whole series to date.

On Wed, Oct 27, 2021 at 8:18 AM Kate Coleman via Evergreen-catalogers <evergreen-catalogers at list.evergreen-ils.org <mailto:evergreen-catalogers at list.evergreen-ils.org> > wrote:

I agree with Mary. While our consortium does use an authority management company, I wish Evergreen authority capabilities were better. Validation works weirdly, cross referencing doesn't actually cross, and I'm just disappointed tbh. However, I am thankful we do have the service and remain hopeful for improvements with EG authorities. When those improvements DO come, our catalog will be ready for it because of our authority company. I'll be the first to admit that while I'm unhappy, I haven't spent a lot of time researching how to make it better, making launchpad bugs, or being a squeaky wheel. 

Kate Coleman, MLIS

Technical Services Manager, Jefferson County Library

Missouri Evergreen Consortium 

5678 State Rd. PP
High Ridge, MO 63049
636-677-8689
Fax: 636--677-1769
kcoleman at jeffcolib.org <mailto:kcoleman at jeffcolib.org> 

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On Tue, Oct 26, 2021 at 6:52 PM Mary Llewellyn via Evergreen-catalogers <evergreen-catalogers at list.evergreen-ils.org <mailto:evergreen-catalogers at list.evergreen-ils.org> > wrote:

We haven’t had authority control done since our last ILS. We’re not sure the public usage would justify the expense since they mostly use the keyword search and you need to browse to see cross references. I would like to see developments that all KW searches to touch the authorities. 

On Tue, Oct 26, 2021 at 4:43 PM Carolyn Phillips via Evergreen-catalogers <evergreen-catalogers at list.evergreen-ils.org <mailto:evergreen-catalogers at list.evergreen-ils.org> > wrote:

I have been working here since December 2009 and we have not had authority control work done on our catalog by an outside company since I've been here.  Our IS department has done at least one thing to update authorities, which was changing "cookery" to "cooking."  (We are upgrading to 3.7 November 7.)

Carolyn Phillips
she/her/hers <https://www.mypronouns.org/> 
Cataloger

Grand Rapids Public Library | Celebrating 150 Years <https://www.grpl.org/grpl150> 
Main Library | 111 Library St NE | 49503 <https://www.google.com/maps/search/111+Library+St+NE+%7C+49503?entry=gmail&source=g> 
616-988-5400 x5462 <tel:16169885400,5462>  | www.grpl.org <https://www.grpl.org> 

On 10/26/2021 4:22 PM, Sharon Douglas via Evergreen-catalogers wrote:

Hi everyone,

It's been over 10 years since we last had authority control work done
on our database.
I'm not sure it's worth spending money on doing it again.
Wondering how many public libraries out there have this done once in a
while, and/or keep up with it?

We are on version 3.3.4, will probably move to 3.7 early next year.

Can't decide what value we would get out of spending $13,000 when it
appears only the browsing function utilizes authority files.

Seriously interested in others opinions!

Sharon Douglas
Automation Coordinator
douglass at gsuite.larl.org <mailto:douglass at gsuite.larl.org> 
218-233-3757 ext. 138

Lake Agassiz Regional Library | www.larl.org <http://www.larl.org> 
118 5th Street South <https://www.google.com/maps/search/118+5th+Street+South%0D%0AMoorhead,+MN+56560?entry=gmail&source=g> 
Moorhead, MN 56560 <https://www.google.com/maps/search/118+5th+Street+South%0D%0AMoorhead,+MN+56560?entry=gmail&source=g> 
Celebrating 60 Years of Service in 2021!
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-- 

Mary Llewellyn

Database Manager

Bibliomation, Inc.

24 Wooster Ave.

Waterbury, CT 06708

mllewell at biblio.org <mailto:mllewell at biblio.org> 

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