Cataloguing Section


Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records

Final Report — Current text

HTML version

6. User Tasks

6.1 Mapping Attributes and Relationships to User Tasks

The entity-relationship model that has been developed in Chapters 3, 4, and 5 provides a structure within which data requirements can be analysed in a systematic way. The structure provided by the model serves as a framework for analyzing the uses that are made of bibliographic data with specific reference to the entity that is the object of the user's interest, and to the attributes and relationships that are relevant to the task being performed by the user. Each attribute and relationship can be mapped directly to the user tasks they support.

As noted in Chapter 2, four generic user tasks have been defined for the purposes of this study. The tasks are defined in relation to the elementary uses that are made of the data by the user:

6.2 Assessing Value Relative to User Tasks

Tables 6.1 through 6.4 list the attributes and relationships associated with each of the four primary entities in the entity-relationship model (i.e., work, expression, manifestation, and item). Plotted against each attribute and relationship are the four generic user tasks (i.e., find, identify, select, and obtain), and each task is in turn broken out into four sub-tasks defined in relation to the entity on which the task is focused (i.e., find work, find expression, find manifestation, find item, identify work, identify expression, etc.). The symbols used in the tables ( ■ □ ○ ) indicate the relative value of each attribute or relationship in supporting a specific user task focused on a particular entity. The symbol ■ signifies that an attribute or relationship is highly important for supporting the designated task; the symbol □ signifies moderate importance; and the symbol ○ signifies relatively low importance. The absence of a symbol indicates that the attribute or relationship has no discernible relevance to that particular user task or sub-task.

The tables for each entity contain two segments: the first is a list of attributes of that entity; the second is a list of relationships between that entity and other entities. To support a particular user task both attributes of the entity and relationships between that entity and other entities may be important. For example, to assist the user in identifying a work both the attributes of the work and the relationships of the work to other entities (e.g., to a person or corporate body responsible for the work) are important. The attributes segment and the relationships segment of each table are complementary and must be read in conjunction with one another in order to view the full range of information that is important in supporting a particular user task.

The relationships segment of each table also serves as a means of indicating the importance of relationships in assisting the user to relate one entity to another or to "navigate" the universe of entities represented in a bibliographic file or database. In a sense "relate" could be viewed as a fifth user task. The way the tables are set up the symbols in the matrix of the relationships segment indicate both the importance of a particular relationship to each of the four defined user tasks (as the symbols are read vertically in each column) as well as the importance of a relationship to assisting the user to relate one entity to another or to "navigate" a database (as the symbols are read horizontally across each row).

The assessment of importance of each attribute or relationship to a given user task that is reflected in the tables was based in large part on the knowledge and experience of the study group members and consultants, supplemented by evidence in the library science literature gathered from empirical research, as well as by assessments made by several experts outside the study group.

The criteria that were used by the study group in assigning the relative values for each attribute and relationship varied to some degree depending on the nature of the user task. The principal criteria applied for each task are outlined below.

6.2.1 Find an Entity

For the user tasks find work, find expression, find manifestation, and find item, the highest value was assigned to attributes and relationships that meet one or more of the following criteria:

  1. the attribute by definition serves to identify the entity (e.g., manifestation identifier, item identifier);
  2. the attribute or relationship is typically used as a primary search term for locating the entity (e.g., the title of a manifestation, the relationship between a work and the person or corporate body principally responsible for the work).

Moderate value was assigned to attributes and relationships falling within one or more of the following categories:

  1. the attribute or relationship serves to provide a useful means of subdivision within a predictably lengthy file of entities that match the user's primary search term (e.g., the medium of performance for musical works with non-distinctive titles);
  2. the attribute or relationship is typically used as a secondary search term to qualify a search under a primary term that yields a large results set (e.g., language of expression);
  3. the attribute or relationship is one that will serve to direct the user from an entity found to another entity that is closely related (e.g., the relationship between a supplement and the work it supplements).

Low value was assigned to attributes and relationships that under more limited circumstances might be used to subdivide further a file or to qualify a search.

6.2.2 Identify an entity

For the user tasks identify work, identify expression, identify manifestation, and identify item, the highest value was assigned to attributes and relationships that meet one or more of the following criteria:

  1. the attribute by definition serves to identify the entity (e.g., manifestation identifier, item identifier);
  2. the attribute or relationship forms part of the minimal set of attributes and relationships that for the majority of cases will serve, in the absence of a unique identifier, to differentiate entities that have a number of common characteristics (e.g., the minimal set of attributes sufficient to differentiate one manifestation from another in the majority of cases comprises title, statement of responsibility, edition/issue designation, publisher/distributor, date of publication/distribution, series statement, and form of carrier).

Moderate value was assigned to attributes and relationships that fall within one or the other of the following categories:

  1. the attribute or relationship is one which under specified circumstances will often serve to differentiate entities for which the minimal set of attributes and relationships that normally serves to identify an entity is insufficient (e.g., the extent or physical medium of the carrier in certain circumstances may serve to signal differences between two manifestations that have the same title, statement of responsibility, edition/issue designation, etc.);
  2. the attribute is specifically associated with a sub-type of an entity (e.g., hand-printed books, sound recordings, etc.), and for that sub-category the attribute will often serve to differentiate between otherwise identical entities (e.g., polarity for microforms, presentation format for visual projections, etc.).

Low value was assigned to attributes and relationships that in more limited cases might be used to differentiate between entities with otherwise identical characteristics.

6.2.3 Select an Entity

For the user tasks select work, select expression, select manifestation, and select item, the highest value was assigned to attributes and relationships that meet one or the other of the following criteria:

  1. the attribute or relationship serves in most cases as a significant indicator of intellectual or artistic content (e.g., the subject of a work, language of expression, etc.);
  2. the attribute is one that normally signals a specific technical requirement for viewing, playback, operating, etc. (e.g., systems requirements for electronic resources, etc.), or other conditions restricting access or use.

Moderate value was assigned to attributes and relationships falling within one or the other of the following categories:

  1. the attribute or relationship is a significant indicator of intellectual or artistic content only in limited cases (e.g., intended audience for a work);
  2. the attribute or relationship is one that under specified circumstances may signal a specific technical requirement for viewing, playback, operating, etc., (e.g., dimensions of the carrier).

Low value was assigned to attributes and relationships that are only marginally significant indicators of intellectual or artistic content or signals of special technical requirements.

6.2.4 Obtain an Entity

For the user tasks obtain manifestation, and obtain item, the highest value was assigned to attributes and relationships that meet one or more of the following criteria:

  1. the attribute by definition serves to identify the entity (e.g., manifestation identifier, item identifier);
  2. the attribute or relationship forms part of the minimal set of attributes and relationships that for the majority of cases will serve, in the absence of a unique identifier, to differentiate entities that have a number of common characteristics (e.g., the minimal set of attributes sufficient to differentiate one manifestation from another in the majority of cases comprises title, statement of responsibility, edition/issue designation, publisher/distributor, date of publication/distribution, series statement, and form of carrier);
  3. the attribute or relationship is in the majority of cases significant for locating the source from which the entity may be obtained (e.g., place of publication/distribution, access address for a remote access electronic resource, etc.);
  4. the attribute or relationship is significant as an indicator of restrictions on access to the entity (e.g., access restrictions on the manifestation, access restrictions on the item).

Moderate value was assigned to attributes and relationships falling within one or the other of the following categories:

  1. the attribute or relationship is one which under specified circumstances will often serve to differentiate entities for which the minimal set of attributes and relationships that normally serves to identify an entity is insufficient (e.g., the extent or physical medium of the carrier in certain circumstances may serve to signal differences between two manifestations that have the same title, statement of responsibility, edition/issue designation, etc.);
  2. the attribute is specifically associated with a sub-type of an entity (e.g., hand-printed books, sound recordings, etc.), and for that sub-category the attribute will often serve to differentiate between otherwise identical entities (e.g., polarity for microforms, presentation format for visual projections, etc.).

Low value was assigned to attributes and relationships that in more limited cases might be used to differentiate between entities with otherwise identical characteristics. Low value was also assigned to attributes and relationships that may be significant for locating the source from which the entity may be obtained, but only if the data is kept current (e.g., source for acquisition/access authorization).

Note that the obtain task is not applicable to works and expressions.

Note also that the structural relationships that link work to expression ("realized through"), expression to manifestation ("embodied in"), and manifestation to item ("exemplified by") are assumed to be always reflected in the bibliographic record and are not shown in the tables.

Table 6.1  Attributes and Relationships of Works
  Find Identify Select Obtain
  W
o
r
k		 E
x
p
r
e
s
s
i
o
n 		M
a
n
i
f
e
s
t
a
t
i
o
n		 I
t
e
m		 W
o
r
k		 E
x
p
r
e
s
s
i
o
n 		M
a
n
i
f
e
s
t
a
t
i
o
n		 I
t
e
m		 W
o
r
k		 E
x
p
r
e
s
s
i
o
n 		M
a
n
i
f
e
s
t
a
t
i
o
n		 I
t
e
m		 W
o
r
k		 E
x
p
r
e
s
s
i
o
n 		M
a
n
i
f
e
s
t
a
t
i
o
n		 I
t
e
m
Attributes of a work                                
Title of the work ■       ■       ■              
Form of work □       □       ■              
Date of the work ○       ○       ○              
Other distinguishing characteristic ○       ○       ○              
Intended termination □       ■       □              
Intended audience ○       ○       □              
Context for the work                                
Medium of performance (musical work) (note 1) □       □       □              
Numeric designation (musical work) (note 1) ○       □                      
Key (musical work) (note 1) ○       □                      
Coordinates (cartographic work) □       ■       ■              
Equinox (cartographic work) □       □       □              
 
Relationships Between a Work                                
And other works:                                
Referential successor □       □       ■              
Referential supplement □       □       ■              
Referential complement □       □       ■              
Autonomous successor □       □       □              
Autonomous supplement □       □       □              
Autonomous complement □       □       □              
Summarization         ○       ○              
Adaptation         ○       ○              
Transformation         ○       ○              
Imitation         ○       ○              
Dependent component ■       ■       □              
Independent component ■       □       □              
Integral intellectual aspect                 □              
And persons/corporate bodies responsible for the work ■       ■       ■              
And entities treated as subject of the work ■               ■              

1 Medium of performance, numeric designation, and key have a higher value for identifying musical works with non-distinctive titles indicative only of the musical form (e.g., Symphony, Concerto, etc.)

■ = high value
□ = moderate value
○ = low value

Table 6.2  Attributes and Relationships of Expressions
  Find Identify Select Obtain
  W
o
r
k		 E
x
p
r
e
s
s
i
o
n 		M
a
n
i
f
e
s
t
a
t
i
o
n		 I
t
e
m		 W
o
r
k		 E
x
p
r
e
s
s
i
o
n 		M
a
n
i
f
e
s
t
a
t
i
o
n		 I
t
e
m		 W
o
r
k		 E
x
p
r
e
s
s
i
o
n 		M
a
n
i
f
e
s
t
a
t
i
o
n		 I
t
e
m		 W
o
r
k		 E
x
p
r
e
s
s
i
o
n 		M
a
n
i
f
e
s
t
a
t
i
o
n		 I
t
e
m
Attributes of an Expression                                
Title of the expression   □       □       □            
Form of expression           ■       ■            
Date of expression           □       □            
Language of expression (note 1)   □       ■       ■            
Other distinguishing characteristic   □       ■       ■            
Extensibility of expression           ○                    
Revisability of expression           ○       □            
Extent of the expression (note 2)           ○       ○            
Summarization of content           ○       □            
Context for the expression                   ○            
Critical response to the expression                   ○            
Use restrictions on the expression                   ■            
Sequencing pattern (serial)                             ○  
Expected regularity of issue (serial)                             □  
Expected frequency of issue (serial)           ■       ■         ■  
Type of score (musical notation)           ■       ■            
Medium of performance (musical notation or recorded sound)           ■       ■            
Scale (cartographic image/object)           □       ■            
Projection (cartographic image/object)           □       ○            
Presentation technique (cartographic image/object)           ○       ○            
Representation of relief (cartographic image/object)           ○       ○            
Geodetic, grid, and vertical measurement (cartographic image/object)           ○       ○            
Recording technique (remote sensing image)           ○       ○            
Special characteristic (remote sensing image)           ○       ○            
Technique (graphic or projected image)           ○       ○            
 
  Find Identify Select Obtain
  W
o
r
k		 E
x
p
r
e
s
s
i
o
n 		M
a
n
i
f
e
s
t
a
t
i
o
n		 I
t
e
m		 W
o
r
k		 E
x
p
r
e
s
s
i
o
n 		M
a
n
i
f
e
s
t
a
t
i
o
n		 I
t
e
m		 W
o
r
k		 E
x
p
r
e
s
s
i
o
n 		M
a
n
i
f
e
s
t
a
t
i
o
n		 I
t
e
m		 W
o
r
k		 E
x
p
r
e
s
s
i
o
n 		M
a
n
i
f
e
s
t
a
t
i
o
n		 I
t
e
m
Relationships Between an Expression                                
And other expressions/works                                
Abridgement           ○       □            
Revision   □       ○       ■            
Arrangement (music)   □       ○       ■            
Translation   □       ○       ■            
Referential successor   □       □       ■            
Referential supplement   □       □       ■            
Referential complement   □       □       ■            
Autonomous successor   □       □       □            
Autonomous supplement   □       □       □            
Autonomous complement   □       □       □            
Summarization           ○       ○            
Adaptation           ○       ○            
Transformation           ○       ○            
Imitation           ○       ○            
Dependent component   ■       ■       □            
Independent component   ■       □       □            
Integral aspect                   □            
And persons/corporate bodies responsible for content   ■       ■       ■            

1 Language of expression has value only if the linguistic content of the expression is significant.

2 Extent of the expression may have a prime value for audio and visual materials (i.e., when expressed as duration).


■ = high value
□ = moderate value
○ = low value

Table 6.3  Attributes and Relationships of Manifestations
  Find Identify Select Obtain
  W
o
r
k		 E
x
p
r
e
s
s
i
o
n 		M
a
n
i
f
e
s
t
a
t
i
o
n		 I
t
e
m		 W
o
r
k		 E
x
p
r
e
s
s
i
o
n 		M
a
n
i
f
e
s
t
a
t
i
o
n		 I
t
e
m		 W
o
r
k		 E
x
p
r
e
s
s
i
o
n 		M
a
n
i
f
e
s
t
a
t
i
o
n		 I
t
e
m		 W
o
r
k		 E
x
p
r
e
s
s
i
o
n 		M
a
n
i
f
e
s
t
a
t
i
o
n		 I
t
e
m
Attributes of a Manifestation                                
Title of the manifestation ■ ■ ■   ■ ■ ■   □ □ □       ■  
Statement of responsibility □ □ □   □ ■ ■   □ ■ ■       ■  
Edition/issue designation           ■ ■     ■ ■       ■  
Place of publication/distribution             ○   ○ ○ ○       ■  
Publisher/distributor     ○     □ ■     ○ □       ■  
Date of publication/distribution □ □ ○   □ □ ■   □ □ ■       ■  
Fabricator/manufacturer (note 1)     ○       ○       ○          
Series statement     □       ■       □       ■  
Form of carrier     □       ■       ■       ■  
Extent of the carrier (note 2)             □     □ □          
Physical medium (note 3)             □       ○          
Capture mode             ○       □          
Dimensions of the carrier (note 4)             ○       □       □  
Manifestation identifier     ■     □ ■               ■  
Source for acquisition/access authorization (note 5)                     ○       ○  
Terms of availability                     ○       ○  
Access restrictions on the manifestation                     □       ■  
Typeface (printed book) (note 6)             ○       ○          
Type size (printed book) (note 6)             ○       ○          
Foliation (hand-printed book)             ■               ■  
Collation (hand-printed book)             ■               ■  
Publication status (serial)                                
Numbering (serial) □ □ □   ■ ■ ■               ■  
Playing speed (sound recording) (note 7)                     ○          
Groove width (sound recording)                     ○          
Kind of cutting (sound recording)                     ○          
Tape configuration (sound recording)                     ○          
Kind of sound (sound recording)                     ○          
Special reproduction characteristic (sound recording)                     ○          
Colour (image)             □       □          
Reduction ratio (microform)             □       ■       □  
Polarity (microform or visual projection)             □       □       □  
Generation (microform or visual projection)             □       □       □  
Presentation format (visual projection)             □       ■       □  
System requirements (electronic resource)             □       ■       □  
File characteristics (electronic resource)             □       ○       □  
Mode of access (remote access electronic resource)                     □       ■  
Access address (remote access electronic resource)                             ■  
 
  Find Identify Select Obtain
  W
o
r
k		 E
x
p
r
e
s
s
i
o
n 		M
a
n
i
f
e
s
t
a
t
i
o
n		 I
t
e
m		 W
o
r
k		 E
x
p
r
e
s
s
i
o
n 		M
a
n
i
f
e
s
t
a
t
i
o
n		 I
t
e
m		 W
o
r
k		 E
x
p
r
e
s
s
i
o
n 		M
a
n
i
f
e
s
t
a
t
i
o
n		 I
t
e
m		 W
o
r
k		 E
x
p
r
e
s
s
i
o
n 		M
a
n
i
f
e
s
t
a
t
i
o
n		 I
t
e
m
Relationships Between a Manifestation                                
And other manifestations                                
Reproduction     □       □       □       □  
Alternate     ○       ○       ○       ○  
Component             ○       ○          
Integral part                     ○          
And items                                
Reproduction     □       □       ○          
And persons/corporate bodies responsible for production/dissemination     □                          

1 Fabricator/manufacturer may have a higher value for early printed books, limited production graphics, castings, etc.

2 Extent of the carrier may have a higher value in cases where the extent may signal differences between one manifestation and another.

3 Physical medium may have a higher value in cases where the medium is potentially important to users (e.g. nitrate-based film).

4 Dimensions of the carrier may have a higher value in cases where the dimensions are significant for playback equipment, etc.

5 Source for acquisition/access authorization may have a higher value if the manifestation is likely to be difficult to obtain through normal trade sources.

6 Typeface and type size may have a higher value for differentiating between issues of early books and also for helping users choose materials for the visually impaired.

7 Playing speed may have a higher value for historic recordings that require special playback equipment.


■ = high value
□ = moderate value
○ = low value

Table 6.4  Attributes and Relationships of Items
  Find Identify Select Obtain
  W
o
r
k		 E
x
p
r
e
s
s
i
o
n 		M
a
n
i
f
e
s
t
a
t
i
o
n		 I
t
e
m		 W
o
r
k		 E
x
p
r
e
s
s
i
o
n 		M
a
n
i
f
e
s
t
a
t
i
o
n		 I
t
e
m		 W
o
r
k		 E
x
p
r
e
s
s
i
o
n 		M
a
n
i
f
e
s
t
a
t
i
o
n		 I
t
e
m		 W
o
r
k		 E
x
p
r
e
s
s
i
o
n 		M
a
n
i
f
e
s
t
a
t
i
o
n		 I
t
e
m
Attributes of an Item                                
Item identifier       ■       ■               ■
Fingerprint             □ □                
Provenance of the item               □       ○        
Marks/inscriptions               □       ○        
Exhibition history               ○                
Condition of the item                       □        
Treatment history                       □        
Scheduled treatment                       □        
Access restrictions on the item                       □       ■
Relationships Between an Item                                
And other items                                
Reconfiguration               □       □       □
Reproduction               □       □       □
Physical component of copy                                
Integral part                                
And persons/corporate bodies responsible for ownership/custodianship       ○                        

■ = high value
□ = moderate value
○ = low value

Next section