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The Library 2007 8(4):367-386; doi:10.1093/library/8.4.367
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© The Bibliographical Society (typography) and the contributors (content)

ESTC and the Bibliographical Community

Stephen Tabor

San Marino, California


  Abstract

This article explores the ways in which the English Short-Title Catalogue (ESTC) is utilized by its main users, the 'bibliographical community' of scholars and antiquarian booksellers, to gain information about physical books. It discusses the relationship between ESTC's descriptions of 'ideal copies' and the reports of library holdings attached to them, and shows the most common causes of disruption to this relationship, which result in ambiguous or incorrect records. Implications of current methods of online user input are considered. The article argues for allowing all users to view the error-resolution process while records evolve, and for encouraging ESTC's exposure to new information coming from the bibliographical community


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