Name Authority Challenges for Indexing and Abstracting Databases

Authors

  • Denise Beaubien Bennett University of Florida
  • Priscilla Williams University of Florida

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18438/B81596

Abstract

Objective - This analysis explores alternative methods for managing author name changes in Indexing and Abstracting (I&A) databases. A searcher may retrieve incomplete or inaccurate results when the database provides no or faulty assistance in linking author name variations.

Methods -The article includes an analysis of current name authority practices in I&A databases and of selected research into name disambiguation models applied to authorship of articles.

Results - Several potential solutions are in production or in development. MathSciNet has developed an authority file. The method is largely machine-based but it involves time-consuming manual intervention that might not scale up to larger or multidisciplinary databases. The use of standard numbers for authors has been proposed. Solutions in practice include author-managed registration records and linking among several authority files. Information science and computer science researchers are developing models to automate processes for name disambiguation, shifting the focus from authority control to access control. Successful models use metadata beyond the author name alone, such as co-authors, author affiliation, journal name, or keywords. Social networks may provide additional data to support disambiguation models.

Conclusion - The traditional objective of name authority files is to determine precisely when name variations belong to the same individual. Manually-maintained authority files have served library catalogues reasonably well, but the burden of upkeep has made them ill-suited to managing the volume of items and authors in all but the smallest I&A databases. To meet the access needs of the 21st Century, both catalogues and I&A databases may need to implement options that present a high degree of probability that items have been authored by the same individual, rather than options that provide high precision with the expense of manual maintenance. Striving for name disambiguation rather than name authority control may become an attractive option for catalogues, I&A databases, and digital library collections.

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Author Biographies

Denise Beaubien Bennett, University of Florida

Reference Librarian, Engineering Selector, and Online Coordinator at the University of Florida's Marston Science Library. Academic rank of University Librarian. Currently serving as Member-at-Large of the ALA Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) Board of Directors.

Priscilla Williams, University of Florida

Head, Authorities and Metadata Quality Unit in the Cataloging and Metadata Department at the University of Florida's George A. Smathers Libraries. Academic rank of Assistant University Librarian.

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Published

2006-03-15

How to Cite

Bennett, D. B., & Williams, P. (2006). Name Authority Challenges for Indexing and Abstracting Databases. Evidence Based Library and Information Practice, 1(1), 37–57. https://doi.org/10.18438/B81596

Issue

Section

Research Articles