Katalogregistre

Katalogregistre is a term used in library and information management to describe a centralized registry that stores metadata about catalog records or about catalogs themselves. In practice, it can function as a union catalog, aggregating bibliographic records from multiple libraries, archives, or museums, or as a metadata registry that preserves authority data, cataloging rules, and data mappings used for linking records across institutions.

A katalogregistre aims to facilitate discovery and data exchange by providing a common reference point for catalog records. It supports interoperability, deduplication, and consistency in metadata through standardized formats, controlled vocabularies, and authority files. Typical data held includes bibliographic descriptions, access points for authors and subjects, identifiers such as ISBN and ISSN, and links to related resources.

Standards and data models commonly involved include MARC and MARCXML, Dublin Core, and RDF-based schemas, often aligned with FRBR or FRAD concepts to distinguish works, expressions, and items. Authority files and subject headings are integral, enabling reliable normalization and search. Interoperability is enhanced via harvesting and exchange protocols such as OAI-PMH or SRU, and via APIs that allow real-time querying of multiple partner catalogs.

Governance for a katalogregistre is usually provided by national libraries, library consortia, or international standards bodies. Responsibilities include data quality control, deduplication, concurrency management, and synchronization across participating institutions. Examples of use include national bibliographies, union catalogs, and shared authority files that enable cross-institution discovery and streamlined cataloging workflows.