Data Research Associates has announced general release of a software module that uses a telecommunications network for authority verification of bibliographic headings against local or remote data bases Networked authority verification allows DRA customers to ensure that their bibliographic headings are in accordance with accepted headings--even if the library's local data base does not include authority records. In that case, the library could connect into DRANET, the nationwide network of participating DRA libraries, and compare its bibliographic records against the authority files of another library. DRA also has notified its users of its intention to load the Library of Congress name and subject authority files at its headquarters. Then, they would also be accessible over DRANET.
The verification procedure works as follows: If the library's complete bibliographic heading matches a lxx heading in DRA's authority record, the bibliographic heading is marked as verified. If the bibliographic heading matches a 4xx heading in an authority record, the bibliographic heading is automatically changed to the authorized heading and marked as verified. If the complete heading (including subheadings) does not match a lxx heading in an authority record, but the main heading does match, the main heading is marked as verified with an indication that the subheadings are not verified. If the main heading matches a 4XX heading in an authority record, the main heading is automatically changed to the authorized heading and marked as verified with an indication that the subheadings are not verified. If neither the complete heading nor the main heading match an authorized heading, the bibliographic heading is marked as not verified. Verification symbols are displayed to the left of the field tag in the full MARC record.
[Contact: Joe Bonwich, Data Research Associates, 1276 North Warson Road, P.O. Box 8495, St. Louis, MO 63132-1806; (314) 432-1100 or (800) 325-0888; Fax (314) 993- 8927.]
