[DCRM-L] MARC coding for annotations, decorations etc.

[wah26]

Dear all,

We are in the process of changing our library management system at 
Cambridge and are taking the opportunity to update our local cataloguing 
guidelines. One point at issue is which MARC field to use for 
copy-specific information other than binding or named provenance, which 
clearly go in 563 and 561 respectively. The sort of thing I mean is 
descriptions of annotations, hand-applied decorations such as 
illumination or rubrication, or imperfections. Here are a few examples 
from our recent recataloguing of incunabula:

(1) Marginal manuscript nota signs and notes in cursive hands, and 
additional prayers on verso of upper free endpaper.

(2) Initials in blue with penwork decoration in red and blue on leaves 
A1r and e1 recto.

(3) Conjoint leaves [b1] and [b8] misbound after [b2] and [b6] respectively.

(4) Old shelfmarks: C-1-5; AB-1-3.

(5) Bound with: Paulus Venetus. Expositio in Aristotelem De generatione 
et corruptione et De mundi compositione. Venice : Bonetus Locatellus, 
for Octavianus Scotus, 21 May 1498  - Gaietanus de Thienis. Expositio in 
Aristotelem De anima, De sensu agente, De sensibilibus communibus et de 
intellectu. Venice : Bonetus Locatellus, for Octavianus Scotus, 23 
December 1493.

At various points in my career I would have treated 1, 2 & 4 as 
provenance information and put them in 561 notes, or as general copy 
specific information and put them in 59x or 852 $z, depending on local 
practice, system requirements, my mood at the time, etc., etc. 3 and 5 I 
would always put in 59X or 852 $z. It has been suggested that field 562, 
"Copy and Version Identification Note" a field I was barely aware of and 
have never used, might be an alternative for this kind of information. 
(See http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd562.html if you are as 
ignorant of this field as I was). However, although the examples do seem 
to include notes similar to those above it seems to me that this field's 
purpose is different (differentiation between copies rather than the 
history of individual copies). I would be grateful to hear of other 
libraries' practice in this area.

I suggest you reply to me off-list, and I will summarise for the list if 
people are interested.

Many thanks,

Will Hale.

-- 
William Hale.

Rare Books Department,
Cambridge University Library,
West Road, Cambridge, CB3 9DR. 
<http://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/deptserv/rarebooks/index.html>

Telephone: (+44) (0)1223 333122
Email: William.Hale at lib.cam.ac.uk

*1416-2016: Celebrating 600 Years of Cambridge University Library 
<http://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/600>*
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