New Conference Paper: Using Authorities to Improve Subject Searches

The following paper was presented on Friday (August 17h) at the “Beyond Libraries-Subject Metadata in the Digital Environment and Semantic Web”  IFLA post-conference in Tallinn, Estonia.

Title

Authors

OCLC Research
Edward T. O’Neill
OCLC Research
Rick Bennett
OCLC Research
Kerre Kammerer
OCLC Research

Source

Beyond Libraries-Subject Metadata in the Digital Environment and Semantic Web
Post-Conference Web Site

Abstract

Authority files have played an important role in improving the quality of indexing and subject cataloging.  Although authorities can significantly improve search by increasing the number of access points, they are rarely an integral part of the information retrieval process, particularly end-users searches.  A retrieval prototype, searchFAST, was developed to test the feasibility of using an authority file as an index to bibliographic records.  searchFAST uses FAST (Faceted Application of Subject Terminology) as an index to OCLC’s WorldCat.org bibliographic database.  The searchFAST methodology complements, rather than replaces, existing WorldCat.org access.  The bibliographic file is searched indirectly; first the authority file is searched to identify appropriate subject headings, then the headings are used to retrieve the matching bibliographic records. The prototype demonstrates the effectiveness and practicality of using an authority file as an index.  Searching the authority file leverages authority control work by increasing the number of access points while supporting a simple interface designed for end-users.

Direct to Full Text Paper (MS Word)
See Also:  Learn More About FAST (via OCLC Research)
See Also: Demo the searchFAST Database

See Also: mapFAST

Demo involving Google Maps

See Also: FAST Converter
LCSH to FAST

See Also: FAST Linked Data

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