What are SCIS Authority Files?

SCIS Authority Files allow your system to make links between terms when your users are searching or browsing by an author’s name, subject or series title. An Authority File subscription means that your library catalogue will provide students and teachers with the optimal searching experience.

While many subject headings, contributor names or series titles have variant spellings, synonyms or instances, Authority Files maintain an authorised version of each, meaning that resources won't be left behind in searches. Authority Files link catalogue users to the authorised versions – and from there, also link users to related terms, as well as broader and/or more specific topics, to further assist in catalogue searches.

A working example of Authority Files in action:

A student searches the library catalogue using the search term Bugs, which is a non-preferred term. Without Authority Files, they will see is a limited set of search results, possibly even zero search results. It does not occur to the student to also search under Insects, which is the preferred term, thereby missing out on a significant amount of resources.

With an Authority File subscription, your system will recognise bugs as a synonym to insects, and will direct the student to all terms tagged with Insects. From there, your student will be further directed to broader terms like Arthropods, and narrower terms such as Butterflies or Grasshoppers.

Please visit our Authority Files page to view subscription information.