Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2009

Publication Title

Information Technology and Libraries

Volume

28

Issue

4

First page number:

191

Last page number:

193

Abstract

This article proposes adding keywords and descriptors to the catalog records of electronic databases and media items to enhance their discovery. The authors contend that subject liaisons can add value to OPAC records and enhance discovery of electronic databases and media items by providing searchable keywords and resource descriptions. The authors provide an examination of OPAC records at their own library, which illustrates the disparity of useful keywords and descriptions within the notes field for media item records versus electronic database records. The authors outline methods for identifying useful keywords for indexing OPAC records of electronic databases. Also included is an analysis of the advantages of using Encore's Community Tag and Community Review features to allow subject liaisons to work directly in the catalog instead of collaborating with cataloging staff.

Keywords

Area specialist librarians; Electronic information resources; Online databases; Online library catalogs; Subject analysis; Subject headings

Disciplines

Cataloging and Metadata | Communication Technology and New Media | Library and Information Science

Language

English

Permissions

Use Find in Your Library, contact the author, or use interlibrary loan to garner a copy of the article. Publisher copyright policy allows author to archive post-print (author’s final manuscript). When post-print is available or publisher policy changes, the article will be deposited

Publisher Citation

Griffis, P., & Ford, C. (2009). Enhancing OPAC records for discovery. Information Technology and Libraries, 28, 191-193.

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