----- Original Message -----
From: "D P Ingram" <[log in to unmask]>
> Hi.
> We are presently sketching out the plans for some online reference/
> discographical works and are aware that there is no perfect solution or
> consistency amongst agreement :( In order to try and make things as user
> friendly yet accurate (with scope for expansion) I am looking for any
> views towards the following:
>
> 1. Presentation of artist names and groups.
> a. As these will have to go into one field rather than a "first name",
> "last name" or "group name" arrangement, do people still really use the
> "last name, first name" format that much when it comes to ONLINE
> searching? I am aware of its importance still in paper products and
> should there be any paper based developments I would hope we could
> computerise the reversal of names.
> b. Allowing for the fact that computers can strip out (for alphabet
> presentation) in listings "The" and such words, do people prefer it to
> the previous use of parenthesis. I.e. "The London Chorus" instead of
> "London Chorus (The)" and variants.
> c. Some discographies and catalogues have used a combination of capitals
> to show a family name whilst using the same format. This may be a
> European influence I cannot be sure. Does it prove to be off- putting to
> an American audience, i.e. "Hiram HOSIE" (as artist) and "HONEYMAN'S
> FIDDLERS (as group/artist).
>
And there is yet another problem...that of "noms du disque" (AKA
"pseudonyms"...?!). I always used two data fields: ACT_ART for the
actual (common) name of the artist (i.e. "Fields, Arthur") and ART_CRED
for the record label entry (i.e. "X, Mr.") Note that this table is, and MUST
be, indexed/sorted by the LAST name! Also, I have NO idea how one
programs the stripping-out of "articles" (A/An/The) which is needed...?!
Both the artist him/her/itself and the pseudonym (if used) need to be
entered in any discographic data table; the first for answering the
common question,"What records do I own by "Artist," and the second
soone can acually FIND the records...!?
> 2. Discographical indication of language
> a. We are considering the use of a field to indicate the language used
> within a recording. Is ISO 639-3 the right standard ? I am a bit
> confused here. We want to make it a standard lookup so that we could
> define Gaelic (GLA) or if possible differentiate Swedish as used in
> Sweden compared to Swedish as used in Finland (a different branch). Any
> linguists care to help here. From what I can see ISO 639-3 is the
> nearest.
>
Here, I would say "Whatever current Library usage is"...?!
Steven C. Barr
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