I start from the assumption that the preferred entry point for library users is the one that they are using and that if their choice is different from that of the catalogue they are entitled to be provided with a cross reference. All the examples that I am giving used the LC OPAC on the assumption that if anyone is likely to get it right it would be the Library of Congress. However, I hope that the Library of Congress will not feel that they have been singled out. Similar tests have been carried out on many other OPACs with similar results. Although it is not always possible to detect whether a cross reference is available on a Z39.50 retrieval, it is obvious as the case studies show when one is not available.
The entry in Collins English Dictionary is under Dostoevsky but three other variations are noted Dostoyevsky, Dostoevski and Dostoyevski. A search was made under Dostoyevsky and a retrieval of 80 downloaded. The retrieval was scrolled through in the MARC format display after using the find facility to highlight the field 245. This revealed thirteen variations to the original four in the spelling of Dostoyevsky's name. An author search under all these variations of the name resulted in the following Dostoyevsky 329, Dostoevskii 223, Dostoevski 5, Dostoevsky 1, Dostoevskogo 1. The remaining twelve variations had no retrievals. If authority control is working I would expect that the preferred term would have links to all other variations and that none of the variations would be used as headings.
Working on the assumption that if a word is used in the title it is likely to be a prime candidate for a subject approach, a search was made using title contains 'creativity'. This resulted in 1259 records. Using the 'select subject' option on a retrieval of 400 of these records showed that 398 headings were used. Of these only 2 headings and 4 records used creativity while 10 headings with 158 records used creative ability. As creative ability and creativity seem to be synonymous one should be linked with the other by a cross reference. Searching under 'subject contains' creative ability produced a retrieval of 1941 while creativity one of only 182. This seems a clear case of where authority control should have used one or the other.
'Subject contains' produced a retrieval of 1145 and 'title contains' one of 891. A retrieval of 80 of the 'title contains' was examined in the MARC format display. After using the FIND facility to highlight smoking and then scrolling through it showed that eleven records had no subject containing smoking. There were however subject entries under; cigarette habit, tobacco habit, cigarette smokers, cigar smokers, tobacco. This means that over ten per cent of the records would be missed by an approach using smoking and probably many more using the alternatives.
The correct form seems to be Cummings E E (Edward Estlin) Searching under Cummings E produces a retrieval of 173 and under Cummings E E 163. However under Cummings Edward Estlin only 52. This shows library users would miss a great many records if they used Cummings full name Edward Estlin and they would even miss some if they used EE instead of E.
This particular heading has been the subject of postings to Autocat because LC have established "Sexual harassment--Law and legislation" and "Sexual harassment of women--Law and legislation" where before Law and legislation were missing. Quite rightly the postings have pointed out that it is not inherently legal and nor is it inherently criminal. This however seems to be one of several anomalies. A search using 'subject contains' sexual harassment produces a retrieval of 549. 'Select subject' broke down the retrieval as follows:- sexual harassment, sexual harassment of women, sexual harassment in education and sexual harassment in universities and colleges. Two further headings are sexual harassment against women and sexual harassment in colleges and universities. These only have one retrieval and are obviously errors. One obvious anomaly is that sexual harassment in schools is covered by sexual harassment in education. This subject heading does not cover sexual harassment in universities and colleges which has its own heading. There should be cross references and see also references to link this group together
Secularisation is an alternative spelling for secularization and should have a cross reference. However, there seems to be a distinction between secularization and secularism but it would need an expert to tell the difference and the catalogue user needs some guidance. A search using 'Title contains' secularization produced a retrieval of a 100, 'title contains' secularisation 3 and 'title contains' secularism 158
One of these is Codex Vaticanus. A 'title contains' search produced a retrieval of 50. Scrolling through the Marc format display showed that 28 had no 6XX or 7XX tags This means that a subject search would fail more than 50 per cent of the time
This is the abbreviation for National Fire Protection Association. Searching under the organisation's full name there are 395 records but none under NFPA. 141 of the 395 have a mention of NFPA somewhere in the record.