Outgoing

Expanding VIAF

We have been busy adding new files to the  Virtual International Authority File, streamlining our handling of files, adding new features and getting that last bug out of the system.

Currently we are loading personal name records from 16 different authority files:

Bibliothèque nationale de France
National Library of the Czech Republic
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
National Library of Israel
Library of Congress
National Library of Sweden
National Library of Australia
Bibliotheca Alexandrina (Egypt)
Istituto Centrale per il Catalogo Unico (Italy)
Biblioteca Nacional de Portugal
Biblioteca Nacional de España
Swiss National Library
Vatican Library

That may look like only 13 files, but Israel has four authority files based on the script of the names.  Some of the files are still small test files, but should be full files soon.

We still have lots of work to do, both in the interface and in the record matching, but we are pleased with what we have accomplished so far.

--Th

Changes to VIAF

The Virtual International Authority File (VIAF) is a project jointly administered by LC, the BnF, the DNB and OCLC.  The National Library of Sweden is also a participant, soon to be joined by several other libraries.  We currently have about 7.8 million VIAF records built from 9.2 million source records.

The VIAF site has recently had a major overhaul.  What you now search are records created from a merge of matching source authority records.  Within this record you can see what source records were used to create it, along with cross references and other information gleaned both from the authority records and from associated bibliographic records.

In addition to the VIAF record there are MARC-21 and UNIMARC views of the data.  For example, here is the record for Barbara Tillett (one of the main forces behind VIAF) : http://viaf.org/viaf/77390479.  By adding a file extension you can get a MARC-21 version: http://viaf.org/viaf/77390479.m21, and a UNIMARC view: http://viaf.org/viaf/77390479.unimarc.  The MARC export is new, so any error reports are welcome.

In the not too distant future we expect to offer a 'linked data' view of VIAF.

The whole site is just a thin layer of XSLT stylesheets and URL rewrite rules over an SRU database. Other than some JavaScript, virtually everything else is XSL transforms on XML data returned from SRU queries.  The graph is put up using a JavaScript vector graphics package jsGraphics.  Mouse overs, etc. are currently working better in Firefox than IE.

We know we have work to do to refine the matching process, but are interested in errors people notice, both names that should have been brought together and those that should not have, as well as interface problems you may have.

--Th

Ships in WorldCat Identities

A colleague was in my office wondering if Captain Cook's ships are in WorldCat Identities.  Sure, they are.  Here are the ones I found:

Resolution
Discovery
Adventure

and Endeavour (suggested by Debbie below).

In honor of Darwin's 200 birthday here is the HMS Beagle.  And of course the Titanic.

If ships, why not spaceships?  The key word is spacecraft:

• Hubble Space Telescope
• Apollo 13
• Columbia
• Vostok

There are even imaginary space vehicles (e.g. Rama).

Mostly people write about ships, but under AACR-2 the ships themselves can be considered authors (e.g. of their logs).  If you look at the LC/NACO authority record for the Hubble Space Telescope you will see it established as a corporate name.  Which almost makes sense!  Rama however, is established only as a subject, so it can't author anything.

--Th

Popular authors

In the UK, EU authors get paid a few pence for every loan of their books, so lending is tracked nationally.  Lorcan pointed me at a Guardian article about the latest book-lending statistics which show that James Patterson (an American mystery author) was the most borrowed author in the UK last year.

Here's the list (linked to WorldCat Identity pages):

1. James Patterson
2. Jacqueline Wilson
3. Daisy Meadows
4. Nora Roberts
5. Francesca Simon

The article points out that part of the trick is being prolific.  I read recently that Nora Roberts had 100 books on the New York Times bestseller list over the last ten years.

Looking at what these authors write, it's easy to see what people read: mysteries, love stories, children's books, mystery love stories, young adult mysteries, young adult love stories, and the occasional young adult Christmas paranormal love story mystery.

--Th