I think the point of Thomas Brenndorfer's IMDb example is not to say that the OPAC should be a way to find out what types of jobs that Clint Eastwood has had. Certainly there are other places more appropriate to find that information. Rather, it is to say that the OPAC should be able to help a user find resources based on certain criteria, e.g. Clint Eastwood as actor, Clint Eastwood as director, Clint Eastwood as writer, Clint Eastwood as producer, Clint Eastwood as music composer, Clint Eastwood as music performer, etc. Having the specific nature of the relationship unambiguously tied to the access point or identifier will greatly enhance the ability of the user to find the resources sought.
Kevin M. Randall Principal Serials Cataloger Northwestern University Library k...@northwestern.edu (847) 491-2939 Proudly wearing the sensible shoes since 1978! > -----Original Message----- > > Wotta boon! (The fact of IMDb already existing notwithstanding). And > let's extend this fantastic accomplishment to other areas of interest and > inquiry, too. How long until I can consult my local OPAC to find out who > won the batting title in the Pacific Coast League in 1932? > > Mike Tribby > > -----Original Message----- > > As an option for navigating the relationships people have had to creative > works, there is the possibility of very user-friendly approaches, as in this > IMDB example for the many job types Clint Eastwood has had in relation > to films: > http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000142/ > > Current library catalogs do not come close in helping users in ways that > are now commonly found across the web. > > Thomas Brenndorfer