Scope: Overview of what ISNI is and how to use the ISNI web interface
Created by: Mary Jane Cuneo (Harvard), Karen Carlson Young (Harvard)
Scope: Overview of what ISNI is and how to use the ISNI web interface Created by: Mary Jane Cuneo (Harvard), Karen Carlson Young (Harvard) |
International Standard Name Identifier—an ISO (International Standards Organization) standard developed as a global identification system of Public Identities of Parties. It identifies millions of contributors to creative works and those active in their distribution, incl. writers, artists, creators, researchers, publishers, and more. As of July 2017, most of the Public Identities are persons, but corporate bodies are included as well.
ISNI is a significantly different approach than that used for authority control in which we establish and maintain consistent forms of terms—names, subjects, titles—to be used as headings in the bib records of the library catalog. There, headings must not only be consistent, they must also be unique. The bibliographic information is organized using a single distinct text string or heading—which is “authorized” or established in that particular form and applied consistently.
Creating an ISNI is quite a different experience from what we are familiar with as catalogers. Generally when creating a local or NACO authority we are basing the authority on information presented on a resource in our library's collection or for which our library has licensed access, but that is not necessarily true when creating an ISNI. We might not have anything in hand and in many cases the names we are working with are primarily outside the library silo, in terms of the material we work on.
Another difference is the milieu (peer sources)—ISNI contributors are not only other libraries but also property rights organizations, publishers, information aggregators, etc., so we are placed in a much larger/global environment. (In ISNI, "source" refers to the contributing member organization (e.g., HARV), not the part of an information resource from which information is transcribed or recorded.)
It is important to remember that because ISNI is not an authority file, we are not trying to create a unique access point but an identifier for an entity that can have different forms of name, none of which is considered the preferred or authorized form of name.
The concept of “relationships/contributors/creators” roles can be quite a challenge for new ISNI participants. The purpose of ISNI is identification and that we need to put our cataloging hats away for this work.
ISNI identifies public identities of parties:
Note that ISNIs identify the Public Identities of Parties such as author, composers, cartographers, performers, academic/scientific authors, publishers, etc. ISNI does not include works/expressions, subjects.
An ISNI consists of a 16-digit number (including check digit).
There are two levels of records:
Whether the ISNI receives Assigned status or not depends in large part on a complex algorithm that takes into account the:
See also ISNI Data Quality Policy.
One or more of the following actions may satisfy the algorithm and turn a provisional ISNI into an assigned one:
Note that the majority of records in the ISNI production database have a status of provisional, most commonly because there are no matches with records from other sources, or there may be too many matches. Potential matches need to be reviewed (manually) before they are upgraded to Assigned status.
ISNI data comes primarily from the VIAF (Virtual International Authority File) database. VIAF contains name authority work carried out by agencies worldwide, many of which are national libraries (over 40), but there are non-VIAF contributors to ISNI as well.
Sept. 26, 2017: Description of the 3 databases has been updated, it is more nuanced than previously described!
Within ISNI there are 3 primary views or databases:
ISNI public database = public view, www.isni.org, no need for a user ID; includes only records with status “Assigned”. Maintenance is via the yellow box only. [Show this view]
Web version
ISNIQT view – access to full level of maintenance; entire database is available, including data from sources considered as “private” (ISNI production/QT permissions)
Member view – access to a basic level of maintenance (merges, data correction of own source data, creating new records); entire database is available, but data from some sources is considered as “private” and cannot be seen (ISNI production/Member permissions)
Accept – test version (ISNIQT view mirrors 2a; Member view mirrors 2b)
WinIBW
ISNIQT view – access to full level of maintenance; entire database is available, including data from sources considered as “private” (ISNI production/QT permissions)
Member view – access to a basic level of maintenance (merges, data correction of own source data, creating new records); entire database is available, but data from some sources is considered as “private” and cannot be seen (ISNI production/Member permissions)
Accept – test version (ISNIQT view mirrors 3a; Member view mirrors 3b)
Which view you see depends on what your membership is authorized for and which URL you use.
See How to use the ISNI web portal. For more detailed information, continue below:
See ISNI web links (restricted access)
The first screen is a Search screen. Notice also other tabs for Results (of your search)
Advanced (shows other search options with filters for different combinations of search terms—note drop-down menus under each)
Help: offers detailed information about the search options and how best to use them. Also offers explanation of the search indexes in the drop-down menu (APH, CN, etc.)
See How to use the ISNI web portal. For more detailed information, continue below:
It can be helpful to experiment with the searching options on your own to get an idea of different results based on different search terms/combinations. See also ISNI Search: Guidelines and Examples: http://www.isni.org/filedepot_download/139/470
Search results are sorted by relevance; for example: Results for John Huston:
Note: Results display 10 per screen/click on next to see remaining results in the search
For additional information about the names in the list go to the Filter box: Click on the + and see:
Click on a name: the record displays with Labels. Also look at:
ISNI is designed to uniquely identify an entity; it is not intended to provide access to comprehensive information about a public identity. It can provide links to sources where detailed information is held, and provides a link for occurrences of the public identity across databases on the web.
See How to use the ISNI web portal. For more detailed information, continue below:
Do a thorough search to avoid creating a duplicate. Perform the search several ways.
Note! fairly extensive searching,outside of ISNI, may be part of the process to clarify the identity: Google search, IMDb, or other resources depending on where the name is coming from. Then, in ISNI:
Select Add an identity: Person or fictional character, or: Add an identity: Organisation
Name: enter the name you are creating
Forenames are preferred over initials for Names (real names or pseudonyms)
Note:
Creation Class (defines the repertoire such as musical, a-v, textual similar to RDA’s content type. Some examples are given if you hover over the “i” information icon, but according to the ISNI data element values document creation class is not yet defined; the default is “cre” BUT it is an optional field and most of us are choosing not to enter any value in this field.)
Creation Role (such as author, performer, publisher, illustrator): use the drop-down menu which is fairly comprehensive, for the HFA project there are numerous options in addition to director, such as film director, film producer, etc.
Work: Titles of works created by person (as found in the source of information you have)
Name Variant: Additional names known to the ISNI member providing the information
Related person: co-authors, co-performers, real names, collaborators, etc.
Relation: is related
Relationship type: choose from drop-down list
Related organization: if person is affiliated or member of or otherwise related
Language, Gender, Nationality: optional
External Information and Notes: You can add outside sources such as a website in the Information Box, with an indication of the source such as Wikipedia and the URL to the source providing a link to more detailed information about the Public Identity.
General note: messages for the ISNI quality team, such as information that should be deleted from a record, records that should be merged or separated, etc.
When completed, click Save Changes. (Not necessary to save after adding information in each tab)
Results:
And you have created a record!
See How to use the ISNI web portal. For more detailed information, continue below:
What is enhancing a record:
There are four ways possible duplicates can arise:
Also make a General note when you have found a mixed identity (names of different persons in one ISNI record), or another error you wish to see corrected.
For beginners, see in particular the documents noted with "useful!" on the Pilot 2017-18 documentation and training page.