Navigating the Library Catalogue: How FRBR helps our users

posted by Carol Cooke @ 4:02 PM

Presented by: Christine Oliver

Summary: The model described in the 1998 IFLA report, Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records, is the topic of much discussion in the library community. The FRBR model, with its focus on users and their information needs, has begun changing the way we look at resource description and access. It is expected to influence the design of the next generation of library catalogues, affecting especially the retrieval and display of descriptive data. The presentation will give a brief overview of the model, focusing particularly on the group 1 entities: work, expression, manifestation and item. It will outline some of the effects of applying this model, looking particularly at ways in which the concepts in FRBR can improve online catalogues. The presentation will also address how the cataloguing community is integrating FRBR concepts and will look particularly at how the AACR community is using the FRBR theoretical framework to shape the new edition of the rules, AACR3.

My Note:

Roy Tennant's Key Note address this morning really whetted my appetite for this presentation.

The Presentation:

The FRBR model has been around for a while but it is only being really heard about now.

[Read IFLA report]

Present a user focused approach to the bibliographic record.

FRBR is not a set of rules but a set of concepts which can be applied to future development of the infrastructure for library catalogues.

FRBR Model is made up of entities and these entities are grouped.

Group 1 entities are products of intellectual or artistic endeavor.

Work = idea for the Robinson Crusoe story (in Dafoe's head)

is realized through

Expression = original English text as he wrote it

is embodied in

Manifestation = London, printed for W. Taylor, 1719.

is exemplified by

Item = copy owned by Yale

My Note: This is a very elegant way to express a very complicated set of concepts.

Group 2 entities - those responsible for creating, producing, etc., the entities in group 1

Group 3 entities - subjects of works (e.g. concept, object, event, place)

Attributes are characteristics of entities.

• similar to data elements
• can be inherent or externally imputed (e.g. call number)

The examples of attributes shown were very familiar to cataloguers.

FRBR also acknowledges relationships between entities which assist the user to navigate through the work.

Current Library Catalogues

The user does a search and is presented with 15 records for one work. These 15 records might include works about the one the user is interested in or different editions or even different locations for the work. Confusing... which one do they pick? Do they have to review all 15?

Outcome in a FRBR'ized catalogue

The user does a search to find the original work. One record is pulled up and the user may then make selections on how to view the work. They could have a choice of languages to select from, different media to choose from, and a list of records about that work.

This is an attempt to improve navigation and improve display of information to user.

How will this impact cataloguing and AACR2 and the proposed AACR3?

Christine Oliver took the audience through the different steps that might happen in the future to help bring the FRBR model into current cataloguing process. FRBR will have a significant impact on AACR3.

My Notes:

This was certainly a session which reached out to cataloguers! That being said, the concepts from the FRBR model and the application of this model is something every reference librarian and administrator should push library systems vendors towards. The application of this model would make the lives of our patrons much easier and the library catalogue might actually return to being the first place our patrons go for information.