Library Technical Services

 

Scope:  These are the policies that LTS RMC staff follow when cataloging printed materials.

Contact: Margaret Nichols

Unit: RMC

Date last reviewed: 05/05/08

Date of next review: May 2009

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Choice of rules: AACR2R or DCRM(B)

PCC Contribution

Authority Work

Notes

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Choice of rules: AACR2R or DCRM(B)

For original cataloging, we apply DCRM(B) for pre-1800 European and pre-1821 American imprints. For all others, we apply AACR2R.

For copy cataloging, we leave the existing cataloging as is, except that we:

• update the encoding level to full (Encoding level: blank), if it's less than full (Encoding level 4, 7, or u, for example)
• update access points to their authorized forms, and create authority records if needed
• correct any errors in the record
• add copy-specific notes in the holdings record

We do not ordinarily change an existing catalog record from AACR2R to DCRM(B) or vice versa.

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PCC Contribution

We contribute an original catalog record to PCC if all of its access points are authorized, i.e. have authority records.

Records which do not qualify for PCC contribution:

• copy cataloging
• recon records
• records with some access points not covered by authority records, such as a 650 _4, tracings for former owners, etc.

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Authority work

RMC participates fully in the NACO program. We contribute authority records for names and series not only in cataloging new acquisitions, but also in carrying out grant-funded retrospective conversion. NACO records are input in Voyager, sent to our NACO coordinator for review, and subsequently uploaded to OCLC through the usual LTS procedure.

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Notes to include in records for early imprints (pre-1800 European and pre-1821 American ones)

Printers' devices--routinely; describe only if bibliographically significant.

Title page vignettes (any decorative figure)--routinely; describe only if bibliographically significant or if artist is known/famous.

Head- and tail-pieces--only if bibliographically significant or if artist is known/famous.

Title page in red and black.

Wove paper--If a signature statement is given,  make this note if the book paper is wove (to explain the absence of a format statement, such as 8vo). Even if no signature statement is given, make this note routinely when wove paper is found in an 18th-century or very early 19th-century book.

With half-title--routinely

Cancels--should be noted; any deviations from recorded copies elsewhere. (This note may take several forms, e.g. "Some leaves appear to be cancels"; "Several leaves canceled"; "Title page cancel?"; "Leaf B6 canceled and original leaf left in place.")

Errata--routinely (describe its physical appearance if it is something other than a leaf, e.g. slip pasted in)

Publisher's advertisements--routinely. You may describe the contents of these if you can do so concisely, e.g. "Publisher's advertisements for other works by this author."

Incorrect pagination--only if bibliographically significant (for instance, if the last numbered page is misnumbered, giving an inaccurate impression of the length of the work)

With frontispiece--routinely

Engraved title page--routinely with added engraved title page

Contemporary wrappers--routinely (describe, e.g. "contemporary blue marbled wrappers")

Binding--if artistically significant or signed. If binder is known, trace him/her in a 700 field with $4bnd at the end.

Anything wanting--routinely. This goes in a $z note on the holdings record ("Imperfect: …")

Provenance--routinely. This goes in a $z note on the holdings record ("Provenance: [name] (nature of ownership mark, e.g. bookplate, stamp, or signature).") Example: 852 00 $brmc $kRare Books $hQC27 $i.B79 1662 $zProvenance: Franz Sondheimer (bookplate); P. P. Ewald (signature).

Blanks--noted if a blank leaf (not page) appears at the beginning or end of the book. Note a blank in the middle if it is not part of the pagination sequence.

Not noted: price; statements of patronage; mottoes; pious invocations.