NETWORKING AND AUTHORITY CONTROL - ONLINE CATALOG AUTHORITY CONTROL IN ILLINOIS

As libraries implement online public access catalogs, the need for online authority control is becoming increasingly clear. This need is even more essential as libraries link databases or create multilibrary shared catalogs. In facing the challenge of maintaining authority control for the Illinois statewide online union catalog, ILLINET Online, libraries throughout Illinois have developed a system for shared authority work among several sites throughout the state. This system has merged the policies and work flow of nine individual libraries so authority control can be achieved at a statewide-level. The experience has shown that libraries can successfully combine efforts to develop policies and procedures that standardize the sharing and use of data.