DCRM(B) Area 0 re-write

[JAIN FLETCHER]

Hi, everyone,

You may remember that I agreed to Bob's request at ALA that I should 
attempt to re-phrase some of the re-written DCRM(B) rules that I felt 
had lost some of the helpful wording of the original.  Before doing 
so, I would like to re-iterate that I think that we are on the right 
track to align our text more closely to that of AACR2r (while trying to 
"forget" that AACR itself is changing...!)  Still, I think we need to 
remember that some of DCRM's text needs to help clarify for catalogers 
how to proceed on transcriptions for presentations that are often more 
convoluted than those found in the more often standardized modern 
materials.

One such area is the 5th paragraph of 0E, which was such a clear 
statement of treatment for punctuation in DCRB and made a 
distinction between how to deal with punctuation found on the piece and 
imposed ISBD punctuation.  If anything, I would have liked AACR2's 
language to have moved closer to DCRB's direction.  What I find 
interesting about AACR2's wording is that it picks out a single ISBD 
punctuation (the virgule) and puts it into the rule itself, without a 
"for example".  This is awkward and the lack of context makes its 
meaning confusing.  I have found over the years that less experienced 
catalogers do not understood the full meaning of that rule.  So, here's 
my idea for the text:

Transcribe exactly as to wording, order, and spelling, but not 
necessarily as to punctuation and capitalization.  Generally, follow 
conventions of modern punctuation in transcribing information according 
to these rules, except where ISBD punctuation is prescribed.  Common 
sense may be used in transcribing or omitting punctuation found in the 
source.  Optionally, record all of the punctuation that is found in the 
source of information. When this option is chosen, always give the 
prescribed punctuation as well, even if this results in double 
punctuation. 	
	[use the same 3 examples for Les pommes de terre ...]

I consider this the best from both rules.  I hope you agree that this 
phrasing, combined with the changes related to punctuation we discussed 
for a later point of Area 0, will make it clear how to navigate the 
waters between transcription and imposition of ISBD punctuation.  

I cannot find any other whole re-writes where I thought we ought to 
hark back to our original wording (probably our discussion of the topic 
negated my concerns,  because I remember I originally thought there 
were two places).  Still, let me jot down the simple re-write I had 
voiced at the meeting for the footnote (FN) of 0D:

FN:  Therefore, the absence of square brackets indicates that data has 
been transcribed from one of the prescribed sources.



   I'll be interested in hearing what others think of these ideas.	
								--Jain

Jain Fletcher 
Cataloger, Dept. of Special Collections 
A1713 YRL
Research Library - UCLA
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA   90095-1575

v: (310) 825-2422
f:  (310) 206-1864