LibraryThing has implemented the start of a solution for the problem of distinguishing authors with the same names.

This has been a challenge for libraries since the beginning of cataloging.  The accepted solution thus far has been Authority Records.  I like that LibraryThing has found a simple, elegant solution that matches what people think and say when distinguishing between two authors with the same name.

I also like that they will be following the Disambiguation model used by Wikipedia; it works well and oftentimes leads users to serindipitous information.