Original scientific paper
User tags and subject headings : research of functionality as a contribution to enhancement of subject access
Sonja Špiranec
orcid.org/0000-0003-2586-3374
; Filozofski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Blaža Livaja
Abstract
This paper investigates functionalities of different indexing systems based on problems in verbal subject access in library catalogues, challenging aspects of subject headings systems and social tagging, which is perceived as a method that complements controlled vocabularies. The aim of the conducted study was not only to provide a detailed insight into advantages and disadvantages of user tags and subject headings, but also to emphasize the need for evaluating user tags as a special kind of indexing system, instead of assessing them from the perspective of controlled languages. Thus, the authors argue for measuring subject headings and user tags as approaches that belong to different information landscapes that may have a similar, but not an identical purpose. User tags should therefore be surveyed and evaluated differently in order to understand and use those features that are perceived as effective in library catalogues. The results of the study are indicative for conceptualizing enhancement strategies in subject access and for adjusting library catalogues to the needs of contemporary users, or for future research in subject headings or user tagging.
Keywords
library catalog; verbal subject access; subject headings; user tags; LibraryThing
Hrčak ID:
142251
URI
Publication date:
16.3.2015.
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