Author entry is a term primarily used in reference to bibliographic databases or library catalogs, denoting an organized record or description of a specific author's works. It serves as a central access point to retrieve relevant information about an author, including their published materials, contributions, and related details. An author entry typically includes various elements, such as the author's name, dates of birth and death if applicable, biographical information, a list of their works, and sometimes information about their background or writing style.
The purpose of an author entry is to facilitate efficient retrieval and management of information about a particular author. Library catalogs frequently provide author entries to aid users in locating books, articles, or other materials written by specific authors. The entry typically enables users to search for an author by browsing through alphabetical listings or utilizing search functions. In addition, author entries often contain cross-references to related authors or subjects, enhancing the user's ability to explore similar or connected works.
Author entries are crucial components of comprehensive bibliographic databases and catalogs, serving as integral tools for researchers, librarians, and general users seeking information about authors and their writings. They provide a concise, standardized format for organizing information, enabling efficient access to an author's body of work and supporting the overall organization and retrieval of information within the bibliographic system.
The term "author entry" does not have a specific etymology as it is a combination of two separate words.
1. Author: The word "author" comes from the Latin word "auctor", which means "originator" or "producer". It evolved through Old French and Middle English to reach its current form in the English language.
2. Entry: The word "entry" originated from the Old French word "entree", which means "entrance" or "act of entering". It was derived from the Latin word "intrare", meaning "to enter".
When these two words are combined, "author entry" refers to the information or record of an author in a bibliographic or library context. It typically represents an entry in a catalog or index that provides details about an author's works.