Using Authorities to Improve Subject Searches

• Published in: Cataloging & classification quarterly Vol. 52; no. 1; pp. 6 - 19
• Main Authors: O'Neill, Edward T., Bennett, Rick, Kammerer, Kerre
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 01.01.2014
• Subjects: Authority control; authority files; Bibliographic records; Bibliographies; FAST subject headings; Indexing; Information retrieval; OCLC; SearchFAST; Subject heading schemes; WorldCat
• ISSN: 0163-9374; 1544-4554
• DOI: 10.1080/01639374.2013.850018

Authority files have played an important role in improving the quality of indexing and subject cataloging. Although authorities can significantly improve searching by increasing the number of access points, they are rarely an integral part of the information retrieval process, particularly end-users' searches. A retrieval prototype, searchFAST, was developed to test the feasibility of using an authority file as an index to bibliographic records. searchFAST uses Faceted Application of Subject Terminology (FAST) as an index to OCLC's WorldCat.org bibliographic database. The searchFAST prototype complements, rather than replaces, existing WorldCat.org access. The bibliographic file is searched indirectly; first the authority file is searched to identify appropriate subject headings, then the headings are used to retrieve the matching bibliographic records. The prototype demonstrates the effectiveness and practicality of using an authority file as an index. Searching the authority file leverages authority control work by increasing the number of access points while supporting a simple interface designed for end-users.