Factors complicating the identification and processing of duplicates in bibliographic records: A theoretical perspective

This article examined the factors that create challenges in the process of identifying and processing duplicates in bibliographic records, which are a crucial component of the information systems of libraries, archives, and publishers. The study explored issues arising from typographical errors, variations in transliteration, the use of special characters, homoglyphs, differing word abbreviation rules, inconsistencies in author name spellings, and shortcomings in the application of standard identifiers such as ISBN and ISSN. Particular attention was given to the impact of discrepancies between international and local MARC standards – including Unimarc and Marc21 – on the creation and processing of bibliographic data. The analysis demonstrated that improper handling of bibliographic records can lead to degraded information retrieval quality for users, inaccuracies in source citations, and increased time expenditures for cataloguing and indexing. Furthermore, inconsistencies in standards impair the management of bibliographic data in multinational systems. The article also examined the consequences of these issues for bibliographic systems, including reduced search query accuracy, difficulties in data integration across catalogues, and increased time and resource costs for record processing. A set of solutions was proposed, including the adoption of unified record standards, the implementation of advanced adaptive search algorithms that account for linguistic and technical discrepancies, and enhanced authority control in bibliographic record creation. The findings have practical implications for information system developers, cataloguers, and library professionals, as they contribute to improving bibliographic databases, reducing duplicate records, and enhancing information retrieval quality for end users