Corporate Bodies Authority File

The Corporate Bodies Authority File (German: Gemeinsame Körperschaftsdatei) or GKD is a German authority control for the organisation of corporation names (corporate bodies) from catalogues. It is used mainly for documentation in libraries. Like the Subject Headings Authority File (Schlagwortnormdatei or SWD) and the Name Authority File (Personennamendatei or PND), the GKD is looked after and updated by the German National Library (DNB), the Bavarian State Library, the Berlin State Library and, since 1997, the Austrian National Library, several library networks taking part. The responsible editor is the State Library in Berlin. The Common Corporate File was created in the 1970s from the catalogue data of the Journal Database (ZDB). In April 2004 it contained more than 915,000 records.

Since April 2012 GKD, SWD and PND are part of the Integrated Authority File (Gemeinsame Normdatei or GND).

The GKD on microfiche

The GKD on microfiche

Structure

As with the SWD and PND, the "Rules for Alphabetical Cataloguing" (Regeln für die alphabetische Katalogisierung or RAK-WB) are used. They stipulate, amongst other things, what counts as a corporation. These include, inter alia, local authorities and associations such as firms and clubs, but also congresses and exhibitions.

In addition to names (index terms and synonyms) of individual corporations, GKD data files contain links to parent bodies as well as earlier and later names.

GKD records are uniquely identified by an ID number, the GKD number. The GKD number consists of digits, the last being a check digit, which can also be 'X' (for 10). The number ranges are divided into quotas by library network, so that, for newer records, it can be determined in which network they were created.

The GKD, like the PND and SWD, is available to information systems in libraries (usually library networks) and other areas via the DDB file on a standard CD-ROM or through a Z39.50 interface - but usually only for a fee. For access to authority records, there is a separate Machine Exchange Format for Libraries or MAB GKD. Previously microfiches were used (see illustration).

The search for individual corporations enabled by the GKD is part of many catalogues.

A link to the name authorities of the Library of Congress is provided. A link to Wikipedia is still in the planning stage.

Examples of a GKD file

ID Number (ID-Nummer) 

2144828-0

Entry (Ansetzung) 

Institut für Bibliothekswissenschaft <Berlin>

Remarks (Bemerkung) 

Quelle: telM an DBL

Abbreviation (Abkürzung) 

IfB

Corporation dates (Daten zur Körperschaft) 

1. Oktober 1994 -

First reference (1. Verweisung) 

Universität <Berlin, Humboldt-Universität> / Institut für Bibliothekswissenschaft

Second reference (2. Verweisung) 

Universität <Berlin, Humboldt-Universität> / Philosophische Fakultät <1> / Institut für Bibliothekswissenschaft

Former name (Früherer Name) (Reference to its own record)

Institut für Bibliothekswissenschaft und Wissenschaftliche Information <Berlin>

State code (Ländercode) 

XA-DE

The example is not given directly in internal PICA+ or MAB format.

GKD references between data

GKD records can refer to one another using "Earlier/later name" and "belonging to" fields. The following example contains an extract:

External links

• Information pages of the DNB about the GKD
• Information pages at the ZDB
• Search for GKD records (DNB)
• Search for GKD records (HBZ)