Towards an expert system for cataloguing: some experiments based on AACR2

Librarians have sought to reduce the cost of cataloguing by sharing bibliographic data, but it is still an expensive, labour intensive process which is a reason why short entry catalogues have been advocated. Existing computer systems have tended to automate the clerical aspects of cataloguing but developments in artificial intelligence hold out the prospect of automating the professional aspects too. The feasibility of creating an expert system for cataloguing using the PROLOG programming language, was the subject of a postgraduate research project at Exeter University. Such a system would be capable of applying many AACR2 cataloguing rules automatically and would also cope with rules governing local practices.