On Thu, 30 May 2013 09:34:47 -0400, Trail, Nate <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>I'm not so worried about RDA rules on using terms instead of codes. If a
cataloger chooses a text term from a picklist, she may think she's recorded
the term, but behind the scenes, a uri is recorded. Both sides are happy.
>Nate

But not if (s)he has inserted a space in a different position, nor sometimes
if a capital is rendered in lowercase, or vice versa.

Consistency is good, so long as it doesn't distort the data and obscure real
differences. What people regard as "real" isn't consistent anyway -- which
is the justification for a normative code. Absolute consistency is an
unattainable goal, and any system that fails to provide a means of dealing
with it (preferably without loss of information) falls short.

As has sometimes been said: deal with it!

Hal Cain
Melbourne, Australia
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