Jonathan Rochkind wrote:
You think there are no wrong ISBNs in any cataloger-assigned isbns in marc records? As someone who works with ISBNs in cataloger created marc records, I assure you there are.
Actually, for the OpenLibrary project there was a compare done between Amazon data and LC data. First, it matched records on ISBN, then it compared the titles. In the group that I looked at, where the ISBN in one of the records was wrong it was wrong in the LC record, not the Amazon record. That's logical: publishers are motivated to get the correct ISBN in the database where bad data can mean losing a sale, so if they find an error they correct it. There is less motivation for LC to go back and correct ISBNs, even if they would notice that they are wrong. I also want to say that this discussion seems to focus on library data vs. publisher data, as if it is either-or. It isn't. In fact, already many libraries (including LoC) are adding publisher data to their catalogs, such as author bios, book blurbs, tables of contents, and cover art. It makes total sense for this data to come from the publisher, since it is the publisher who produces it. I'm convinced that we can have a data workflow that makes better use of data that is already produced at certain points in the product cycle. I also think that we can increase the utility of these data sources by agreeing on some points of connection. If only our energy would go into that instead of arguing about whose data is better. kc -- ----------------------------------- Karen Coyle / Digital Library Consultant [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kcoyle.net ph.: 510-540-7596 skype: kcoylenet fx.: 510-848-3913 mo.: 510-435-8234 ------------------------------------
