D.Litt. et Phil. / The need for an authority list for South African names has been expressed on various occasions. The general aim with this study was to determine the reasons for this need and propose an effective solution to the problem. At the hand of a comprehensive literature study an overview was given of what authority control is, why name authority control is necessary and the problems experienced during name authority control. This literature study was done for two reasons, namely to: Use the information obtained in this way, as a basis to analyse the South African situation in regard to the standardisation of South African names. To clear up the existing, ignorance in South Africa about the nature, aim and necessity for standardisation of names. In the light of the poor quality of records imported by participating libraries into the South African cooperative databases, it was concluded that the participating libraries are not really aware of the impact the standard of their work has on resource sharing and shared cataloguing. By providing this background information an attempt is made to make libraries and information services aware of the importance of. the standardisation of names on national and international levels. With the basic information on name authority control as starting point, the South African situation was investigated with regard to standardisation of South African names. Important roleplayers were interviewed in order to determine how they go about standardising South African names and to identify the problems experienced with the standardisation of names. In order to get a better understanding of the problems the roleplayers experience, a sample of names was taken from the name authority file of the South African National Bibliography (SANB). The sample of names was identified by random sampling. The minimum size of the sample was determined by using, s statistical formula. The sample of names was analysed regarding_ variations in names, the same name for different people as well as changes in corporate names. A critical analysis of the South African situation regarding the standardisation of South African names was done, using all the information gathered. In order to find a solution to all the problems experienced, two models were proposed, namely a traditional model and a model consisting of an alphanumeric code. The two models were compared to each other in order to determine which one of the two models would be the most effective for the standardisation of South African names. In the presentation of the one model a programme was developed in order to practically demonstrate the model and to test its viability. During the comparison of the two models the ordinal and interval scales of _ measurement were used. At the hand of the results of the measurements, the most effective model for the standardisation of South African names was proposed. Thus, an answer was provided to the original problem statement namely: How can a standardised list of South African names be compiled cost-effectively in order to make names available timeously for use by libraries and information services nationally and internationally?

Authority control is the backbone of the library catalogue and therefore a critical library activity. Experienced staff create authority records to assist users in their quest for information. The focus of this study is on authority control as a means of co-operation in academic library consortia using a union catalogue maintained by a Central Office for Authority Control. Literature studies were conducted on three sub-problems: the development of academic library consortia in South Africa, and various forms, characteristics and functions of academic library consortia in general; the characteristics, principals and objectives of authority control; and the functions of union catalogues with special reference to the role of Z39.50 within virtual union catalogues. The conclusion was that existing and new authority records should be made available as widely as possible within consortia through a union catalogue. It is however a partial solution, because not all the libraries within the consortium have the expertise to create new authority records. Two empirical studies were conducted. A cost analysis was done to determine the cost of creating and changing authority records within academic library consortia in South Africa, in order to choose a system within which authority control can be performed effectively and speedily. Secondly, a questionnaire was sent to libraries in the United States to gather information on their experiences with regard to authority control, library co-operation in general, and virtual union catalogues. The United States was the natural choice because it could be regarded as the birthplace of modern library consortia. Inferences drawn from the information received was used to develop the structure and functions for a Central Office for Authority Control in academic library consortia in South Africa. It was found that authority control within an academic library consortium using a union catalogue could be conducted most cost-effectively and timeously through such a Central Office for Authority Control. The purpose of the Central Office would be to co-ordinate authority control within the consortium. Pooling available resources within the consortium would keep the cost of authority control as low as possible. Libraries with the required infrastructure and expertise would have the opportunity to create authority records on behalf of other libraries and be compensated for their services. Through such a Central Office more authority records created according to mutually accepted standards would be available for sharing within the consortium. / Information Science / D.Litt. et Phil. (Information Science)

Authority control is the backbone of the library catalogue and therefore a critical library activity. Experienced staff create authority records to assist users in their quest for information. The focus of this study is on authority control as a means of co-operation in academic library consortia using a union catalogue maintained by a Central Office for Authority Control. Literature studies were conducted on three sub-problems: the development of academic library consortia in South Africa, and various forms, characteristics and functions of academic library consortia in general; the characteristics, principals and objectives of authority control; and the functions of union catalogues with special reference to the role of Z39.50 within virtual union catalogues. The conclusion was that existing and new authority records should be made available as widely as possible within consortia through a union catalogue. It is however a partial solution, because not all the libraries within the consortium have the expertise to create new authority records. Two empirical studies were conducted. A cost analysis was done to determine the cost of creating and changing authority records within academic library consortia in South Africa, in order to choose a system within which authority control can be performed effectively and speedily. Secondly, a questionnaire was sent to libraries in the United States to gather information on their experiences with regard to authority control, library co-operation in general, and virtual union catalogues. The United States was the natural choice because it could be regarded as the birthplace of modern library consortia. Inferences drawn from the information received was used to develop the structure and functions for a Central Office for Authority Control in academic library consortia in South Africa. It was found that authority control within an academic library consortium using a union catalogue could be conducted most cost-effectively and timeously through such a Central Office for Authority Control. The purpose of the Central Office would be to co-ordinate authority control within the consortium. Pooling available resources within the consortium would keep the cost of authority control as low as possible. Libraries with the required infrastructure and expertise would have the opportunity to create authority records on behalf of other libraries and be compensated for their services. Through such a Central Office more authority records created according to mutually accepted standards would be available for sharing within the consortium. / Information Science / D.Litt. et Phil. (Information Science)