As I blogged before, Some things are worth waiting for. And yes, 2008 is indeed the Year of Non-Latin References in LC/NACO Authority Records. The first of the pre-populated name authority records with non-Latin script forms datamined from WorldCat that had previously been visible as “alternate names” in WorldCat Identities have made their debut!
So the name authority record for Pak Sang-nim now shows both the hanja form of the name, 朴 相林 as well as the hangul form, 박 상림.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LC Control Number: n 2008046884
HEADING: Pak, Sang-nim, 1927-
Used For/See From: Park, Sangrim, 1927-
박 상림, 1927-
朴 相林, 1927-
Special Note: Non-Latin script reference not evaluated
Found In: Hongik hwabaek esŏ ch’ajŭn ch’amdoen t’ongil ŭi kil, 2008: cover (朴 相林 = 박 상림 = Pak
Sang-nim) added t.p., etc. (b. 1927 in Hamnam Yŏnghŭng; chŏngch’ihak paksa, Kŏn’guktae
Taehagwŏn; w., Kungmin Ŭnhaeng; hoejang, Minjok Hwahae Yŏnʾguhoe; Park Sangrim [in rom.])
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The prepopulation process has just started and will take some months. Nevertheless, those of us who have been waiting to see non-Latin script references in authority files for a quarter-century (or more!), our wait is (almost) over! And we can mark the OCLC Programs and Research project to “lead and effort to upgrade the LC/NACO authority file with non-Latin alternate names” completed.
Karen Smith-Yoshimura, senior program officer, topics related to creating and managing metadata with a focus on large research libraries and multilingual requirements. Karen retired from OCLC November 2020.