“First time use” (FTU) name headings, authority control, and NACO

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to examine “first time use” (FTU) name headings in the context of outsourced authorities processing and NACO participation, with consideration given to workflow and management issues in cataloging operations, and to the concept of achieving authority control in a catalog.

Design/methodology/approach

For this study, a report was produced from an integrated library system of 295 “headings used for first time” (FTU) on one day in a month during which more than 10,000 bibliographic records were cataloged system‐wide. Of these FTU headings, 100 were from fields used for author names (field 1xx, 7xx) in 80 bibliographic records. This represents a snapshot of FTU headings rather than a random sample but is typical of reports from this system. Issues addressed include FTU headings as errors; matching of bibliographic headings to existing authority records in the LC/NACO national file; and the need for NACO contribution when the heading has no supporting authority record.

Findings

Describes “first time use” headings in relation to bibliographic records cataloged (original or copy, language, etc.) and the match rate of about two‐thirds of the headings to existing authority records in the international LC/NACO authority file by the authorities processing vendor. This is a slight increase over time, assumed to be due to the growth of the NACO program. Approximately one‐third of the name headings are candidates for authority records via NACO.

Research limitations/implications

The sample size was small but findings are similar to related research, for example regarding match rate of headings on bibliographic records to the LC/NACO authority file. However, there is no agreed‐upon benchmark with respect to this match rate. The questions remain about the need for all headings to have authority records and what constitutes a given catalog being “under authority control.”

Practical implications

Similar academic libraries likely can depend on authorities processing vendors to deliver matching name authority records for about two‐thirds of headings and also expect that approximately one‐third of name headings will lack authority records. If not a NACO participant, locally created authority records might be a choice. For NACO members, administrative decisions about workflow and authority record creation are needed. The resulting utility of the catalog, if matching authority records are included in the system, is a factor that should be considered.

Originality/value

This paper reports findings regarding authority records for name headings in relation to vendor processing of bibliographic records and subsequent catalog utility if matching authority records are founding the LC/NACO file and used in the system. The concept of establishing a benchmark for a satisfactory “match rate” of headings to existing authority records and for a catalog that may be said to be under authority control is raised.

Citation

Van Pulis, N. (2006), "“First time use” (FTU) name headings, authority control, and NACO", Library Management, Vol. 27 No. 8, pp. 562-574. https://doi.org/10.1108/01435120610686737