Creating better library information systems: the road to FRBR-land

Introduction. To provide valuable services in the future, libraries will need to create better information systems and set up an infrastructure more in line with the current technologies. The Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records conceptual model provides a basis for this transformation, but there are still a number of unresolved issues connected to its actual implementation. Method. Using conceptual analysis, the paper investigates three main aspects of future FRBR-related research and developments. Analysis. For each of the three areas, the paper describes its current position and identifies the questions that will need to be resolved in the broader library community. Results. The library community needs to rethink three key aspects connected to the creation and sharing of bibliographic data: what bibliographic data users need in their information seeking process, how this data should be presented and interacted with in bibliographic information systems and, last but not least, how this data should be encoded and managed. Page 1 of 10 Creating better library information systems: the road to FRBR-land 11/12/2013 http://informationr.net/ir/18-3/colis/paperC07.html Conclusion. Implementation of the Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records model is only at its beginning. The paper provides a roadmap for future work on FRBR implementation and the creation of better library information systems.