Comparison of Persian bibliographic records with FRBR
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/EL-07-2016-0148 |
| Published date | 02 October 2017 |
| Pages | 916-933 |
| Date | 02 October 2017 |
| Author | Mohsen Haji Zeinolabedini |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Information & communications technology,Internet |
Comparison of Persian
bibliographic records with FRBR
Mohsen Haji Zeinolabedini
Knowledge and Information Science Department, Shahid Beheshti University,
Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of thispaper is Identifying the degree of compatibility of the current situationof the
Persian bibliographic records (PBRs) with FRBR, as well as identifying the possible approaches and
strategies for appropriate application of the model to Persian. The required data were gathered via two
checklists were devisedfor the purpose of this research and each of which was dedicated to“Shahname”and
“Nahjolbalaghe”.Also, to determine the characteristics of a suitable functionalrequirements for bibliographic
records (FRBR) model for Iran, 18 implementation projects round the world were surveyed and analysed.
Results of the study show that some FRBR requirements were readily available in Persian bibliographic
records (PBRs), but in some cases, there are some deficiencies due to some likely reasons, such as lack of
commitment to the Anglo-AmericanCataloguing Rules 2, specifications of the library software structureand
neglectingbibliographic and family relations in catalogues.
Design/methodology/approach –The main goal of this research was to identify the degree of
compatibility of the current situationof the PBRs with FRBR, as well as identifying the possible approaches
and strategies for appropriate application of the model to Persian records. Research publication was 3,502
records in the National Bibliographyof Iran for “Shahname”and “Nahjolbalaghe”of which 365 records were
selected using systematic samplingmethod. Resources types included in the study were books, audio-visual
resources,geographical resources, theses, lithographicbooks, manuscripts and journals.
Findings –Results of the studyalso showed that the appropriate method forimplementing FRBR in Iran is
the comparative model. According to this model, the current recordsare saved while they are compared to
FRBR model, as a result of which, anomalies are identified and resolved.In another part of this research, 16
important challengesthat could exist in implementing the model in Iranwere identified and introduced. Also,
eight characteristicsof a suitable implementation model in Iran are introduced.
Originality/value –FRBR, is a conceptual entity-relationship model, released by IFLA and aimed to
determine a minimum level of catalogue functions based on user’sneeds. This model consists of four main
parts: entities, attributes,relations and user tasks. This research has studied the feasibility of implementing
application of the model to Iranian library records. Any research before the present paper (based on PhD
thesis) has not been conductedyet in Iran.
Keywords Digital libraries, Cataloguing, Organizational change
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Computerized library catalogueshave been used by library patrons to search for and access
data for more than two decades. Application of these catalogues has been subject to
transformations during the time based on technological changes and user needs. Present
day users expect more than finding a resourceand specifying its place in the library; rather,
current catalogues are users’unofficial counsellors for their scientific research tasks.
Therefore, these catalogues shouldbe able to provide users with a body of interrelated and
coherent information based on their needs, procuring for them some research and analytic
affairs from the very first stepof each research question.
Presently, many library catalogues and information retrieval systems do not support all
cataloguing functions described by Cutter more than a century ago and several decades ago by
EL
35,5
916
Received18 August 2016
Revised18 August 2016
Accepted15 January 2017
TheElectronic Library
Vol.35 No. 5, 2017
pp. 916-933
© Emerald Publishing Limited
0264-0473
DOI 10.1108/EL-07-2016-0148
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/0264-0473.htm
Lubetzky. Studies have shown that several attempts have failed to put together all versions of an
identical work due to inattention to these functional conditions and bibliographic relationships
among different works and their objective manifestations (Salaba and Zhang, 2007). To obviate
this problem and to develop improved facilities to retrieve data, IFLA assigned a special research
group to conduct its research endeavours from 1992 to 1995 (Tillett, 2004). In 1990, at the
conclusion of Stockholm Seminar entitled Bibliographic Records, a resolution was approved
whose signatories asked for a clear-cut delineation of fulfillable functions of catalogues and
bibliographic records with respect to user needs, technological facilities, and previous
experiences. The IFLA research group, finally, presented a pattern as a general viewpoint on the
bibliographic world entitled Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records (FRBR) in 1998.
FRBR is a conceptual, entity-relationship model that is able to be implemented in a flexible mode
and is independent from any cataloguing rules and processes. The framework of this model
consists of data elements existing in bibliographic records with respect to potential applicants’
needs of such records. As regards the significance of this model on an international scale,
conditions and requirements for its implementation in Iran are mandatory. Accordingly, this
study undertakes to examine the possibility of its implementation in Iran.
Statement of the problem
The chief objective of library catalogues is to provide users with the highest amount of
information proportionate with user needs. To do so, despite several attempts and plans,
there are still problems in existing catalogues.Fattahi (2010) considered the most important
problem in present catalogues to be the unsuitability of information organization standards
with the new environment,unsuitability of record structures with catalogues’objectivesand
functions, the flat structure of MARC and inattention to semantic organization and
ontological approach. The flat structure, an absence of relationships among resources,
incomplete representation of information, difficult and expansive processes for data entry
and so on are among the problems in existing catalogues. Even for present-day
computerized library catalogues, as expressed by Le Boeuf (2004), the inability to provide
responses is evident, as library catalogues have regularly occupied a place in the minds of
designers of libraryinformation sources.
Presently, there are millions of records that have been entered into catalogues based on existing
and dominant principles, rules and facilities, which can neither be abandoned, unfortunately,
under the current system, nor can the records be properly used. Therefore, measures should be
taken whereby the application of new systems can be applied using existing records.
Current Iranian computerizedlibrary catalogues, which have been constructed pursuant
to ordinary catalogues of libraries,have developed their bibliographic information based on
the cataloguing principles common in the country, generally derived from the Anglo-
American Cataloguing Rules (AACR) and, in others, from other native principles and
expanded Anglo-American options. Therefore, it is necessary to examine the status quo of
these catalogues compared to the FRBR model and make appropriate decisions for
optimization purposes.The main purpose of this research is to evaluate the degree by which
works catalogued in Iran’s existing computerized catalogues are consistent with the FRBR
model. In addition, there is a need to determine which approach, either comparative or
transformation, should be appliedto make use of FRBR model advantages. Further, there is
a consideration to examine any problems that may occur and to seek potential solutions.
The possibility by which IFLA FRBR might be matched by Persian bibliographic records
(PBRs) should be addressed.Specific research questions are:
Persian
bibliographic
records
917
To continue reading
Request your trial