VIAF: Convenient access to name authority files

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VIAF Contributors regularly supply authority data that VIAF matches, links, and groups. All descriptions for a given entity are merged into a cluster that brings together the different names for that entity. This service allows researchers to identify names, locations, works, and expressions while preserving regional preferences for language, spelling, and script.</p> <p><span class="link-btn-blue"><a href="https://www.oclc.org/en/viaf/contributing.html" title="Contributing">Learn more about contributing to VIAF</a></span></p> <div class="clear"></div> <style> .cq-image-placeholder { background: url("default/placeholders/img.png" ) no-repeat scroll 50% 50%; min-width: 74px; min-height: 74px; border: 2px dashed #cccccc; } </style> </div> <div class="customjavascript section"> <hr></div> <div class="textimage parbase section"> <div class="image img-flt-right-nobrdr"> <figure class="figure-stack-image"> <img src="/content/marketing/publish/en_us/viaf/_jcr_content/par/textimage_bb00/image.img.png/1732655952151.png" alt="World map showing VIAF contributing libraries" title="viaf_map" class="cq-dd-image none img-flt-right-nobrdr"><br> </figure> </div> <h2>Collaborate with other libraries to increase access to information</h2> <p>VIAF Contributors include national libraries, cultural agencies, and other major institutions from around the world. The data of more than 50 organizations from more than 30 countries is represented in VIAF. These Contributors participate in the governance of VIAF through the VIAF Council, which provides guidance on the policies, practices, and operation of VIAF.</p> <p><span class="link-btn-blue"><a href="https://www.oclc.org/en/viaf/viaf-council.html" title="VIAF Council">Learn more about VIAF governance</a></span></p> <div class="clear"></div> <style> .cq-image-placeholder { background: url("default/placeholders/img.png" ) no-repeat scroll 50% 50%; min-width: 74px; min-height: 74px; border: 2px dashed #cccccc; } </style> </div> <div class="text parbase section"> <hr /> </div> <div class="textimage parbase section"> <div class="image img-flt-left-nobrdr"> <figure class="figure-stack-image"> <img src="/content/marketing/publish/en_us/viaf/_jcr_content/par/textimage_39c7/image.img.jpg/1732655952165.jpg" alt="viaf_trusted_consortium" title="viaf_trusted_consortium" class="cq-dd-image none img-flt-left-nobrdr"><br> </figure> </div> <h2>Join a trusted global authority file</h2> <p>The United States Library of Congress, the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek, and OCLC began a proof-of-concept project to link their authority records in April 1998. After four years of testing authority file linking, this group formed the VIAF Consortium at the 69th IFLA General Conference in August 2003. The Bibliothèque nationale de France joined the consortium in October 2007.The four original VIAF Consortium members served as Principals, while other organizations joined as <a href="https://www.oclc.org/en/viaf/contributing.html" title="Contributing to VIAF">contributors</a>.</p> <p>In 2012, the 22 VIAF Principals and Contributors in 18 countries worked with OCLC as VIAF transitioned into an OCLC service. With advice from the VIAF Council, OCLC maintains the hosting, software, and data for VIAF. VIAF continues to grow in both number of Contributors and worldwide representation.</p> <div class="clear"></div> <style> .cq-image-placeholder { background: url("default/placeholders/img.png" ) no-repeat scroll 50% 50%; min-width: 74px; min-height: 74px; border: 2px dashed #cccccc; } </style> </div> </div> <div class="more-cta"> <div class="productaction iparsys parsys"><div class="parsyscolumncontrol section"> <div class="parsys_column cq-colctrl-default" id="product-desc"> <div class="parsys_column cq-colctrl-default-c0"> <div class="col0 parsys"><div class="text parbase section"> <p>The <strong>VIAF (Virtual International Authority File)</strong> combines multiple name authority files into a single OCLC-hosted name authority service. The goal of the service is to lower the cost and increase the utility of library authority files by matching and linking widely used authority files and making that information available online.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="parsyscolumncontrol section"> <div class="parsys_column cq-colctrl-lt2"> <div class="parsys_column cq-colctrl-lt2-c0"> <div class="col0 parsys"><div class="profilelist parbase section"> <div class="list parbase section"> <div class="list-profile-display"> <h1>Service availability</h1> <ul class="list-availability"> <li> <article> <p class="list-profiles-institution"> <span class="list-profiles-instname">Available everywhere</span> <br/> </p> </article> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="parsys_column cq-colctrl-lt2-c1"> <div class="col1 parsys"><div class="text parbase section"> <h3 style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #ccc; padding: 0 0 9px 0;" class="meta">Learn more</h3> <p><a href="http://viaf.org/" title="VIAF" target="_blank">Visit the VIAF website to learn more</a></p> <p><a href="https://worldcat.org/arcviewer/7/OCC/2015/03/19/H1426803137790/viewer/file1365.html" title="Virtual International Authority File service transitions to OCLC; contributing institutions continue to shape direction through VIAF Council">See the 2012 press release about VIAF transitioning to OCLC</a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="parsys_column cq-colctrl-lt2-c2"> <div class="col2 parsys"><div class="newslist parbase section"> </div> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="section"><div class="new"></div> </div><div class="iparys_inherited"><div class="productaction iparsys parsys"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="cont-page extra-info"> <div class="purposestmt iparsys parsys"><div class="section"><div class="new"></div> </div><div class="iparys_inherited"><div class="purposestmt iparsys parsys"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="footer iparsys parsys"><div 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VIAF: Convenient access to name authority files | OCLC