Facets as a Viewpoint Framework: Enhancing Connections in Search and Discovery

For this Golden Jubilee of SRELS, it is appropriate to revisit the contributions of S.R. Ranganathan to library and information science (LIS), a field long concerned with providing optimal access to cultural heritage resources. Serious obstacles to this goal remain. This paper will discuss ongoing work to address the difficulties in creating effective access for two types of cultural heritage materials – films and folktales – that draws from the facet analytical approach developed by Ranganathan. Chief among the lessons that will be discussed is the abiding positive valence of frames of reference, viewpoints and context as guideposts during searching for both groups of users in these projects.