auktoriteettihallintaa

Auktoriteettihallintaa, often translated as authority control, is a process used in libraries and other information management systems to ensure consistency and accuracy in cataloging. It involves creating and maintaining unique, standardized records for specific entities such as authors, subjects, and corporate bodies. The goal is to distinguish between homonyms (names that are spelled the same but refer to different entities) and to group all works by a single author or about a particular subject under one consistent heading.

This standardization is crucial for effective searching and retrieval of information. When authority control is implemented, a user searching for a particular author will be directed to all their works, regardless of minor variations in name spelling or transcription that might have occurred in older cataloging systems. Similarly, subjects are consistently represented, preventing information from being scattered across different, but related, subject headings.

The Authority File, a foundational component of authority control, is a database that contains these standardized records, often referred to as authority records. Each record includes the authorized form of the name or term, along with cross-references to rejected or related forms. For example, an authority record for an author might list their birth and death dates, a brief biographical note, and links to pseudonyms or alternative spellings of their name. This structured approach enhances the reliability and usability of library catalogs and bibliographic databases.