Subject Headings or Keywords? Google, Microsoft Join LC Working Group on Bibliographic Control , Library Journal (Dec 7)
Does reliance on search engines for keyword searches mean inferior results? The Library of Congress "has convened a Working Group on the Future of Bibliographic Control "to examine the future of bibliographic description in the 21st century," according to an LC statement. Besides representatives from several library organizations, the working group also includes representatives from tech behemoths Microsoft and Google. The group aims to advise LC on its role in steering the library community to analyze "how bibliographic control and other descriptive practices" can help librarians manage and users access library materials."
Refers to The End of LCSH? Provocative Report Stirs Up Cataloging Discussion (April 24) where there was the suggestion that libraries "should reduce the costs of producing catalogs".
"LC Associate Librarian Deanna Marcum said, "Tom [Mann] quite rightly points to the superiority of doing searches the library way." However, she said, "Instead of trying to force the users into our systems, are there ways we can take our vast resources to where the users are?""
Posted by Gwen at December 7, 2006 08:24 PM