[SAC-FAST] FAST assignment (#2) - Searching experimental database

[Laura Akerman]

I have attached my FAST assignment document.  Because it's wordy and 
goes into some detail, am summarizing the findings below, but first, I 
have a question:  does the committee charge include evaluating the LCSH 
to FAST conversion algorithm?  If so, my results indicate some areas for 
concern.  We need to understand better why things are missing after 
conversion and see if the omissions can be avoided.  At the least, any 
conversion process would need to include notification of headings or 
parts of headings that were not converted.

Summaries:

Part I.  Searched "newspapers georgia".  Found 20 records using FAST, 4 
using LCSH.  The difference is mainly due to use of an abbreviation for 
state name in LCSH geographic headings.  No works were found on the 
topic of newspapers, only actual  newspapers or abstracts from 
newspapers; results were found because LCSH $v form subdivision 
Newspapers, and FAST 655 Newspapers, are apparently indexed as subject 
terms.

Part II. 
Search 1 - form and genre headings.  A bust, no hits.

Search 2 - Catholic libraries and librarianship.  Conclusion:  LCSH 2 
hits, FAST 1; FAST translation left out a subdivision which did not 
match current LCSH terminology (although it matched a 450 cross 
reference in the authority record for the term, which is valid as a 
heading and subdivision). 

Search 3 - Machine-generated metadata.  Search on "metadata" found 8 
hits, same in FAST and LCSH; one relevant to topic.

Search 4 - Evaluation of library systems.  Search on "library systems" 
found 22 LCSH hits, 19 FAST hits. 
One FAST hit (an irrelevant one) was unique to FAST because of the 
change in terminology in converting LCSH 610 $x subdivision terminology 
(Security measures)  to a FAST 650 heading (Security systems). 
Four LCSH hits were not found by the FAST search because the translation 
to FAST left out headings or subdivisions. 
In one case, the heading didn't match a FAST heading or cross reference.
In two cases, the topic was valid and a FAST heading, the subdivision 
was not valid, but the entire heading disappeared. 
In one case, the conversion left out the topic "Information storage and 
retrieval" although it is a FAST heading, but converted the subdivision 
"$x Labor economics" to a FAST heading (this most puzzling). 
One of the missing LCSH hits was also missing from FAST results in the 
refined search qualified by keywords "evaluation or use"

Search 5 (extra credit, to make up for #1) - Digital libraries, 
qualified by keyword Technology.  LC search found 5, FAST 4.  Again, a 
heading was not converted (650  0 Digital libraries  $x Social aspects.) 
although both parts of the heading appear in FAST authorities (but not 
the whole heading string).

Part III:  Searching the authority file uncovered some new terminology 
to try:

Search 1 (evaluating library systems):  Conclusion - searching the 
authority file might be useful in addition to, but not as a replacement 
for, keyword searching in the database; and I wanted to to "cast the net 
wide" and sifting out irrelevant hits in order to get more results.  It 
can be helpful to find headings more precisely expressing the topic, but 
if the headings weren't used by catalogers, results will not be found. 

Search 2 (technology and digital libraries)  Conclusion - following the 
hits from the authority headings didn't lead to anything, but in the 
process of looking for headings,a term combination came to mind 
(information technology libraries) that was productive when searched as 
FAST keywords in the database.

Side observation:  Older records may not contain the current terminology 
for a subject, even if their headings are "valid" headings.  Not sure 
what can be done about it, certainly nothing through FAST conversion, 
but it's something to be aware of.

Laura

-- 
Laura Akerman, Technology and Metadata Librarian
Robert W. Woodruff Library, Room 128
Emory University
Atlanta, Ga. 30322
ph:  (404) 727-6888  / email:  liblna at emory.edu

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