Public Service Concerns about "Blind Reference" Displays in Acorn

David Carpenter

Authorities Study Group
10/13/97

Problem: Browse or term searches in Acorn often generate blind references when the "see related headings for" option is selected. These blind references result from author or subject heading added entries provided in authority record transfers, but to which no local holdings are linked nor available. With Unicorn, the authority record that provides a name entry for an author may also provide erroneous subject heading entries for the same person, although there are frequently no books in the collection about the particular author.

Example:

Subject Search for: BAKER ALAN
Heading not found in catalog -- Perhaps these cross references could help
1) see related headings for: BAKER ALAN A
2) see related headings for: BAKER ALAN F R S
3) see related headings for: BAKER ALAN REGINALD HAROLD

For BAKER ALAN A

1) search under: BAKER A A ALAN A
Error
Sorry, no items were found using the cross reference you picked

For BAKER ALAN F R S

1) search under: BAKER ALAN 1939
Error
Sorry, no items were found using the cross reference you picked

For BAKER ALAN REGINALD HAROLD

1) search under: BAKER ALAN R H
Error
Sorry, no items were found using the cross reference you picked

Consequences: Acorn users are frustrated and upset when they are unable to get to a list of other books on their topic of interest, as indicated by the blind reference. They usually make one or more of the following assumptions:

• They have done something wrong in their attempt to display additional books on their topic, as promised by the blind reference. Some library patrons will approach a reference librarian and ask for assistance when this happens--others no doubt give up or try other searches.
• A librarian has made a mistake in entering the false information in the Acorn database, and the additional books on their subject are in the collection, but some kind of mistake prevents the database from displaying the entries for the books.
• The Acorn database is not to be trusted, since it is promising phantom books that are really not in the collection at all.

Unfortunately, the occurrence of blind references generated by authority records undermines the confidence of Acorn users in the reliability and correctness of the Acorn database. Public service librarians sometimes hear the lament that the "old Acorn never had this problem," and "why are there mistakes like this in Acorn?" Many reference librarians, themselves, do not understand the reason for so many blind references. Those who understand the cause of the blind references problem can find it difficult to quickly explain to Acorn users why the problem exists, and why it continues to occur. The explanation must involve a description of the function of authority records and how they generate the blind references.