Does the Catalog Record Make a Difference? Access Points and Book Use

Abstract

rttr~~ s libraries make the transition \L\ ~ from manual. to auton:'-ated sysn~i ~.,1 terns, more mformahon about ' " ,....,. -~~ the effects of such changes is needed in order to make best use of the new technologies. One area where more knowledge is required is in the relationship between cataloging and user behavior. We need to understand better the results of our past efforts to provide bibliographic access to academic library users. The current study provides further information on the question of whether circula-. tion of library materials can be associated with elements of catalog records. The traditional cataloging format, as exemplified by the Library of Congress-style catalog record, has served the library community well for many years and continues to answer different demands with its variety of access points. However, we should not consider ourselves bound by the limitations of the card catalog as we design new online systems. We need to test past assumptions in many small ways in order to develop a better composite picture of how users approach the catalog and how the catalog record succeeds or fails in meeting their needs.The central concern of this study is the relationship between access points on catalog records and circulation: specifically, is there a correlation between an increased number of subject headings, and/or other access points, and the number of recorded uses of the book described? This is an attempt to discover whether there is a simple, quantitative approach to the problem of improving bibliographic access. If such a key exists, catalogers would be advised to increase numbers of access points, or at least certain types of access points such as subjects. In the course of trying to answer this question some other aspects of the bibliographic record that might affect circulation are also considered. PAST RESEARCHThere is surprisingly little information linking catalog records and circulation.

Subject Enhancement: Report on an Experiment

“…In addition, circulation information for this and other Illinois libraries is available on LCS terminals. (In mid-1988 the LCS catalog was expanded to provide a full bibliographic record via Illinet Online (10).) The card catalog at the study library was still in place during the experiment but had been frozen since the end of 1985.…”