Perceptions of cataloguers and end‐users towards bilingual authority files

Abstract

The use of bilingual authority files in academic and research libraries has been successful in most of the multicultural societies. Today, with the advancement of information and communication technology many libraries and information services providers on the Internet are accessible in more than one language, facilitating access, retrieval and use of information for scattered users all over the world. Nevertheless, there are also challenges associated with the provision and use of bilingual authority files. This study analyses and describes bilingual authority files of the main library of the International Islamic University of Malaysia. The study also investigated perceptions of cataloguers and end‐users in relation to the bilingual authority files. All the three cataloguing staff at the “Department of Arabic and Religious Resources” and 23 end‐users were interviewed. Respondents felt that the use of bilingual authority files was essential for the success of the library use. However, the end‐users felt that more subject headings and bibliographic information of missing material should be provided. Meanwhile, the cataloguers believed that bilingualism has an effect on bibliographic control. They also felt that AACR2 and LCSH should be translated into the Arabic language.