I could see a student or teacher looking for nursery rhymes, or Mother goose or individual rhyme titles like “Jack Sprat” as noted in the access points identified in the reflection question. Like Connors[i] I see the catalogue as a large database with as many access points as entries so the concept of a main access point is irrelevant. I am more concerned if the database is complete and if there is room to append the database as new ways of looking at the catalogued items occur. I have read in our course materials (Libe465 Lesson 5) that these entries would be Housekeeping entries which could include curricular interests. As I mentioned in a course comment in response to K. Sproule (Oct 1, 2012), I am searching for stories that support social goals of kindness, friendship and empathy and some of the individual rhymes may be what I would like to find. Housekeeping entries could list curricular interests such as self-control, empathy, voice (6+1 writing traits). Alternatively since I am working off a list of stories on self-control, in the bibliographic record the titles of the rhymes would be more useful as one of the rhymes may be on my list. Just as with non-fiction books a listing of the table of contents may be useful. I had a teacher looking for different immigrant groups to Canada and some books had titles that implied the information was present and not until you looked at the table of contents did you realize that the book did not cover the topic as required by the student’s inquiry questions. Unfortunately like noted in Connor the catalogue is held by the creators and they don’t give up the rights to add housekeeping details to users who may damage their entries.
On the topic of a database, one of the functions a computer database can do is transpose (e.g. MS Access). So this means that every entry switches from a search to a response category, this shows how a database values each piece of information individually rather than ranking them. From a database article “The right database software will turn columns and rows of data into valuable information that can drive your business.” [2] Just what a library catalogue is supposed to do for the users, drive their business to maximize efficiencies of finding and using resources. I can see like Connors that “main entry” is in the eyes of the creator of the database but not the user.
[1] Thomas, Faith. How to select the best database for your business. Accessed Oct 1, 2012 from http://www.inc.com/guides/2010/10/how-to-select-the-best-database-software.html
[2]
Conners, D. (2008, September). A Ghost in the
Catalog: The Gradual Obsolescence of the Main Entry. Serials Librarian,
55(1/2), 85-97. Retrieved February 22, 2009, from Academic Search Complete
database. Persistent link to article at UBC library: http://ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/login?url=http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/section?content=a903778273&fulltext=713240928
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