If authority control was just about getting headings right, one might get 
by without a local authority file; however, if we want users searching our 
local catalogs to get the benefit of see references from synonymous terms, 
and see also references to related terms, and scope notes and so on, having 
a local authority file coordinated with the headings we're using is 
essential. Of course, that assumes the local system can do this sort of 
enriched indexing and display.

Stephen

On May 27 2008, Bing Zuo-Dittmer wrote:

>Please excuse me if this topic has already been discussed.
>
>I would like to know how much time others spend on maintaining their
>local authority files. How do you use them?
>
>To me, OCLC Connexion provides everything we need for cataloging. One
>can use Connexion's Authorities button to check name and subject
>headings. It even provides "Browse LC Names and Subjects History" that
>allows one to check what headings have been previously changed by other
>libraries. Also, LC Authorities is accessible to everyone. Isn't this
>what a shared bibliographic utility is for? OCLC's Bibliographic Record
>Notification service delivers updated MARC records to libraries if they
>hold the items whose headings have changed. Do you think one can do the
>same job without the local authority files? 
>
> 
>
>Bing Zuo-Dittmer
>
>