SCIS Authority Files
SCIS Authority Files offers subscribers the online choice of SCIS Full Authority Files and SCIS Reference only Authority Files. They are provided in ASCII or MARC format and updated twice a year.
SCIS Full Authority Files contains the entire subject authority file and name authority file from the SCIS database. These files are used by the library system to add see and see also references relevant to local subject headings.
The subject authority file consists of all the subject headings that have been assigned to the 900,000+ resources catalogued on the SCIS database.
The name authority file contains all the names of authors, editors, illustrators, narrators, composers, film directors, agencies and organisations that have been selected by SCIS cataloguers as 'main' or 'added' entry headings when describing those involved in the authorship and production of the resource.
SCIS Reference only Authority Files contains a subset of the subject and name authority files from the SCIS database. The files only include SCIS headings with references. Many authority records do not contain any references. They simply contain headings which have been authorised for use in SCIS records. These types of headings will not be included in the Reference only Authority Files.
For the majority of name headings, no references are required because there is only one possible form of name. For example:
Names
Allen, Pamela
Australian Youth Orchestra
Base, Graeme
Christchurch Art Gallery
Dahl, Roald
Subject headings with subdivisions generally do not have references. For example:
Subjects
Airports - Fiction
Beach Boys (Band)
China - History - 20th century
Koalas - Poetry
New Zealand poetry - Periodicals
Choosing SCIS Full Authority Files or SCIS Reference only Authority Files
SCIS Full Authority Files may be useful for local cataloguing, particularly for resources such as vertical file materials which are not catalogued by SCIS. You can use the list of authorised headings in your library system to ensure consistency with headings used in SCIS records. If most of your catalogue records are sourced from SCIS and you do little or no original cataloguing, you may choose to load SCIS Reference only Authority Files.
Subscribing to SCIS Authority Files
Before subscribing to SCIS Authority Files school library staff should read the SCIS Authority Files Licence Agreement and check the frequently asked questions.
Different library automation systems handle these files differently, SCIS advises schools to seek advice from, and strictly adhere to the instructions provided by their library system vendor.
Schools are advised to carefully read the Terms and conditions of sale prior to subscribing.
SCIS Authority Files customers pay an annual subscription fee. All SCIS subscriptions are based on a calendar year and expire in December. Schools that subscribe midway through the year are required to pay the full subscription price.
How to subscribe to SCIS Authority Files
To subscribe, complete a SCIS order form and send it to Curriculum Corporation. Approximately ten working days may be required to process orders. An invoice will be sent to the school. Details on how to access and use SCIS Authority Files are sent separately.
General information on authority files and references
What are authority records?
Authority records contain authorised forms of names and subjects used as access points in catalogue records. Authority records may contain alternative names or subjects used as references to the authorised forms, and references to related names or subjects. Authority records may also contain notes which provide instructions for the correct application of the heading. Authority records promote more efficient and effective retrieval of information in library catalogues.
What is the name authority file?
The name authority file contains authorised names of people or entities responsible for the content of resources catalogued on the SCIS database. These may include authors, editors, illustrators, narrators, composers, film directors, agencies, organisations, performing groups and geographic entities.
What is the subject authority file?
The subject authority file contains authorised subject headings assigned to SCIS catalogue records. The file includes topical headings as well as name headings used as the subject of the resource.
What are See references?
See or Use references direct the user from an alternative (non-allowed) term to the authorised (allowed) term. In some library systems See or Use references are displayed, for example:
Space travel
Use: Space flight
In other library systems the user may be automatically taken to the list of resources that use the allowed term.
What are See also references?
See also references direct the user from an allowed term to a related allowed term. The SCIS subject authority file contains MARC coding which in some library systems enables the display of thesaurus-style relationships instead of See also references.
Broader Terms are headings more general in concept than the search term, for example:
Space flight
Broader Term: Astronautics Narrower Terms are headings more specific in concept than the search term, for example:
Space flight
Narrower Term: Apollo Project Related Terms are headings associated with the search term in some way other than hierarchically, for example:
Space flight
Related Term: Astronomy
In many library systems these relationships may simply be expressed as See also references. |
