Well, actually, we did include a <description> under <name> in MODS, which
is not in MARC or cataloging rules as such. In MODS we code birthdates as
<namepart type="date">. So this allows Bruce to put his additions in
<description> if he wants, but wouldn't affect the way someone who wants
to use full AACR2 to establish a name heading. In the latter case,
something like (Musical group) might be an integral part of the name that
is established as a controlled heading and is not given as a separate
element.
Rebecca
On Mon, 5 May 2003, Bruce D'Arcus wrote:
> On Monday, May 5, 2003, at 09:33 PM, Karen Coyle wrote:
>
> > That's another thing that libraries do -- we assign unique names to
> > authors and other "creators." This is part of the reason why the names
> > in the library catalog sometimes look odd.
>
> Oh, and on this, and just to make the issues I raise of relevance to
> library people more directly:
>
> Perhaps this way of labeling names accounts for the fact that online
> library catalogs can be so difficult to search? If I type "John Smith"
> in my library catalog search engine, I imagine I get back a list of 40
> names. The names themselves rarely help me identify the specific "John
> Smith" I need, though, and I regularly find myself clicking on links in
> vain looking for the records I need.
>
> On the other hand, if the additional metadata (birth dates, things like
> "musical group," etc.) were instead separated out so they could be
> displayed in separate results fields in a web browser, I imagine my
> life would be made easier.
>
> Bruce
>
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