Bibliotheca Alexandrina’s Model for Arabic Name Authority Control
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5860/lrts.57n1.4Abstract
This paper describes the processes developed and implemented at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina (BA) to manage authority control in a multiscript environment. The author addresses key issues associated with creating a local authority file for multiscript materials, unique challenges associated with Arabic names, and authority control policy decisions and practices in place at the BA, including contributing records to the Virtual International Authority File. The author highlights important work that the BA is doing to promote standards for Arabic names in a way that takes into account user needs in the Arab community, as well as international standards, while laying the groundwork for further cooperative work between libraries in the Arab world and beyond. A detailed description of workflow with examples is presented.
References
Cynthia J. Durance, '“Authority Control: Beyond a Bowl of Alphabet Soup, ”' Archivaria 35 Spring 1993 (): 38-46nIbid., 38.nCorey A. Harper, Barbara B. Tillett, '“Library of Congress Controlled Vocabularies and Their Application to the Semantic Web, ”' () accessed May 22, 2012, nRoderic Vassie, '“Improving Access in Bilingual, Biscript Catalogues through Arabised Authority Control, ”' Online Information Review 24 no. 6 (2000): 420-29nIbid., 424.n'“Arabic Name Authority in the Online Environment: Options and implications, ”' International Cataloging & Bibliographic Control 32 no. 3 (Apr./June 2003): 23-26nBlair Kuntz, '“Is the Organization for Standardization (ISO)’s Arabic Transliteration Scheme an Improvement over Library of Congress’?”' MELA Notes: The Journal of the Middle East Librarians Association no. 78 (2005): 55-66 accessed May 22, 2012, www.mela.us/MELANotes/MELANotes78/kuntziso.pdfnIman Khairy, '“Authority Control of Arabic Personal Names from the Classical Period at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, ”' () presentation at MELCom International 27th Annual Conference, Alexandria, Egypt, May 23–25, 2005 (rev. version Jan. 2006), nRobert Wedgeworth, World Encyclopedia of Library and Information Services (Chicago: ALA 1980)n“Director’s Message, ” Bibliotheca Alexandrina, About the Library, accessed May 22, 2012, www.bibalex.org/aboutus/message_en.aspxnn
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