Introduction
CCQ theme issue on "The Role and Function of National Bibliographies for Research in Different Academic Disciplines"
National bibliographies are cherished within information science. They are also a rich but remarkably undervalued data resource for historical research, providing comprehensive quantitative insights to the large-scale temporal and spatial dynamics of the evolving publishing landscape. At the same time, a bias in terms of data collection processes or quality may hinder productive use of the bibliographies as a research resource. Obtaining valid conclusions depends on efficient and reliable harmonization and augmentation of the raw entries. In our study based on the Swedish National Bibliography and the Finnish National Bibliography and focusing on publication patterns in Sweden and Finland during the period 1640-1910, we have encountered specific and largely overlooked challenges in using bibliographic catalogues for historical research. This paper demonstrates how such challenges can be overcome by specifically tailored data analytical ecosystems that provide scalable tools for data processing and analysis. Furthermore, we show how external sources of metadata, for instance, on authors, publishers, or geographical places, can be used to enrich and verify bibliographic information. This type of ecosystem has potential for wider implementation in related studies and other bibliographies. In particular, our systematic approach provides a starting point and guidelines for more extensive integration of national catalogues. National bibliographies are essentially about mapping the national canon of publishing, but integrating data across borders should be managed in a way that takes into account specific local circumstances while also helping to overcome the national view in analyzing the past. We are now expanding our pilot study on the Finnish and Swedish bibliographies towards large-scale integration of national bibliographies in the CERL Heritage of the Printed Book Database. Such integration can help scholarship to reach a more precise view of print culture beyond the confines of national bibliographies.
National library catalogues as an undervalued research resource
Swedish National Bibliography and the Finnish National Bibliography and focusing on publication patterns in Sweden and Finland during the period 1640-1910, we have encountered specific and largely overlooked challenges in using bibliographic catalogues for historical research.