wikipedia, redux...

[Marc Truitt]

Concerning the recent thread here about whether or not we should 
use/recommend Wikipedia as a reference source...

This morning, one of our cataloguers here shared the following new LC 
subject authority record with library staff :

010    sh2004001503
040    DLC ?b eng ?c DLC
005    20040325160112.0
150    Hinnies
550    Livestock ?w g
550    Donkeys
550    Horses
670    Work cat.: 2003070232: Grovet, Heather. Beanie, the horse that
wasn't a horse, 2004.
670    Wikipedia, Feb. 12, 2004 ?b (Hinny: the offspring of a male
horse and a female donkey)
670    Am. heritage dict. ?b (Hinny, n., pl-nies: The hybrid offspring
of a male horse and a female donkey)

MARC-savvy readers of web4lib will recognize authority format tag 670 as 
shorthand for 'source data found'.

The lesson?  I suppose if Wikipedia is good enough for our own use in 
establishing authorized controlled-vocabulary headings, then it's good 
enough for...

... well, you get the idea.  :)

cheers,

- mt

-- 
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Marc Truitt
Assistant Dean for Systems                      Voice  : 713-743-8979
University of Houston Libraries                 e-mail : mtruitt at uh.edu
114 University Libraries                        cell   : 713-443-6421
Houston, TX 77204-2000                          fax    : 713-743-9811

"I keep hearing you're concerned about my happiness
But all that thought you're giving me is conscience, I guess
If I were walking in your shoes I wouldn't worry none
While you and your friends are worrying 'bout me,
I'm having lots of fun..."
                                -- The Statler Brothers
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