Traditionally name authority records served a backend purpose of collocating resources in a library catalog that are by or about a person, corporate body, or conference. The primary purpose for developing a name authority heading was to differentiate the entity represented by the heading from other entities with the same name. Additionally, the information in name authority records primarily served to inform catalogers about where the elements of the heading came from. However, in preparing for a linked data environment, RDA now allows a cataloger to provide much richer information in name authority records enabling the records to serve researchers and reference librarians, in addition to cataloging librarians. This session will discuss the kind of information available in name authority records, how it supports FRBR user tasks, and how reference librarians can use it to serve the researchers they support.
