Thank you, both for your feedback. I realize now that I was speaking out of personal frustration but I appreciate that you have both taken the time to share your insight with me. Sincerely, Amy Nadell On Wed, Oct 29, 2014 at 8:29 AM, John Hostage <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > There are some basic guidelines that have been followed in the NAF from > the beginning. A name is generally established based on the work being > cataloged, and if the name is unique, no further research is required to > establish birth dates or other information. > > > > Martin Jacques was established over 30 years ago when his first work was > cataloged at the Library of Congress. This is his authority record: > http://lccn.loc.gov/n82032754 > > In those days, only fairly minimal information was recorded. However, as > far as I know, it has always been the policy to include a birth date if it > is available at the time the heading is established. So we can assume it > was not available to the cataloger at the time. If a birth date becomes > available later, it can be added as information to the NAR, but it is not > added to the authorized access point unless necessary to break a conflict. > It is perfectly acceptable to have an access point that consists of just a > surname and a forename, even if it doesn’t feel satisfying. J > > > > It is fairly certain that the person on that NAR is the one born in 1945 > because examining the bibliographic record for the work originally > cataloged shows it to be published by the Communist Party of Great Britain, > with which Jacques was active (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Jacques) > > > > > VIAF consists of records from many national libraries and some had access > to his birth date and included it in their authority records. When we > reach the promised land of linked data we may be able to create displays > that take data from different sources and present customizable name forms > to our users, but for now, PCC libraries have to use the access points in > the NAF. > > > > ------------------------------------------ > > John Hostage > > Senior Continuing Resources Cataloger // > > Harvard Library--Information and Technical Services // > > Langdell Hall 194 // > > Cambridge, MA 02138 > > [log in to unmask] > > +(1)(617) 495-3974 (voice) > > +(1)(617) 496-4409 (fax) > > > > *From:* Program for Cooperative Cataloging [mailto: > [log in to unmask]] *On Behalf Of *Amy Laurel Nadell > *Sent:* Tuesday, October 28, 2014 17:59 > *To:* [log in to unmask] > *Subject:* [PCCLIST] Novice question regrading Name Authority > > > > I come across this issue, rather frequently, and it may be just because I > am not fully schooled on RDA but let me explain my dilemma... > > I need an authorized heading for Martin Jacques. A short web search > finds Martin Jacques birth year which I hope to correspond to one of the > names in the list. However there is no Martin Jacques with the birth > year 1945. Second step is to click on each of the Martin Jacques, around > the right birth year or with a middle name, hoping to stumble upon > something that I can relate to. Eventually, I stumble > upon Jacques, Martin with no birth year and no middle initial. Many of the > names I have had to look up in the NAF do not have a birth year, or middle > initial. I just don't feel satisfied by a heading like that, last name, > first name only. So my question is, I am supposed to be adding something > locally? These people are the subject of the work, rather than the creator > of the work. > > I hope someone can help me to understand why in NAF it is > only Jacques, Martin and in VAIF it is Jacques, Martin, 1945 (and the one I > think is more helpful for users). > > Thank you, > > Amy Nadell > > > > -- > Amy Laurel Nadell > Metadata Librarian > Access Educational Media > P. 1-800-480-3928 > C. 602-323-4604 > accesseducationalmedia.com > -- Amy Laurel Nadell Metadata Librarian Access Educational Media P. 1-800-480-3928 C. 602-323-4604 accesseducationalmedia.com