Authorities are used to standardize the way information is displayed, especially in relation to authors, subjects, series titles, etc. This is not a Koha innovation, it is one of the standards of library cataloging. An online version of the most widely used source in the U.S. can be found at http://authorities.loc.gov/ The Koha set up is somewhat clunky, but is at least a beginning in trying to make things standardized. The first improvement I would suggest is the ability to import LC authority headings into Koha... Kathy Kathleen D. Rippel Pathfinder Central, manager Central Kansas Library System Original Message: ----------------- From: scott scott@sedc.k12.ut.us Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2009 10:05:07 -0600 To: koha@lists.katipo.co.nz Subject: [Koha] Authorities help What are the authorities for? I cant find a explanation for them, I am trying to edit the 100 $a field, i figured out how to add authorities, do a search for that authority to stick it in the 100$a field, but whats the point? I could just turn them off, would it have a great affect on things? Thanks. For those that reply. -Scott _______________________________________________ Koha mailing list Koha@lists.katipo.co.nz http://lists.katipo.co.nz/mailman/listinfo/koha -------------------------------------------------------------------- myhosting.com - Premium Microsoft® Windows® and Linux web and application hosting - http://link.myhosting.com/myhosting