[DCRB-L] Proposal regarding description of "folders"

[Deborah J. Leslie]

Proposal for revised description of "folders." (DCRB 5B15; glossary)

There are several problems in the rules governing the cataloging of "folders" in DCRB. One is that it can be difficult for catalogers to understand what is being described. Another is that the counting of "pages" causes problems of its own, given the propensity of this kind of publication for unpredictable printing patterns. 

To address the first problem, I propose that we drop the term "folder." Its DCRB glossary definition is peculiar to this context, and to the rest of world (even the library and archives world) it has a different meaning. It is not defined in AACR2. 

To address the second, I propose that we stop trying to count "pages" and rather count "panels." The latter are easily identifiable and countable, as well as easily understandable to the user. 

I can think of a couple of ways to implement these proposals, and currently have no preference. Question: should we try to represent panel numbering? 

300  1 sheet (16 panels) ; 36 x 24 cm. folded to 18 x 12 cm. 

300 1 folded sheet (16 panels) ; 18 x 12 cm.

		or
300  1 folded sheet (13, [3] panels) ; 18 x 12 cm.

	or some combination thereof.



______________________
Deborah J. Leslie
Head of Cataloging
Folger Shakespeare Library
201 East Capitol St., S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
202.675-0369 (voice)
202.675-0328 (fax)
djleslie at folger.edu 
www.folger.edu