[DCRB-L] Main entry for collectors

[Beth Russell]

Others more knowledgeable than myself have already described the importance 
of "collector" main entry. I don't know if my contribution is persuasive, 
but it is passionately held!

 From a purely theoretical point of view, the "collector" is in fact, the 
CREATOR of the collection, which is the ITEM being cataloged. There is only 
one item being cataloged in a collection-level record (the collection) and 
if one individual is responsible for assembling its contents in its current 
state, this activity surely merits main entry, so long as we maintain the 
concept of main entry in our cataloging rules. If one were cataloging a 
scrapbook, for example, the compiler of the scrapbook would play the same 
role (and "deserve" main entry in the same way) although the individual 
components of the scrapbook (newspaper clippings, programs, photos, etc.) 
would have originated from many different sources (which might be traced 
themselves in 6xx or 7xx fields.)

It also bears restating that both APPM rule 2.1A4 and our draft guidelines 
call for the addition of the term "collector" after the main entry in these 
cases, which should clarify the role for anyone who is perplexed in looking 
at these records. One would also hope there would be some explanatory note 
in the body of the collection record, if necessary. Perhaps in our 
discussion of field 545 (biographical or historical note) or 520 / 505 
(summary or contents) we could provide an example to illustrate this, along 
the lines of my completely spontaneous italicized addition to the example 
below:
520     Consists principally of maps of the United States as a whole. Also 
includes maps of sections of the United States and individual states and 
cities, showing railroads or railroad related information. The collection 
was assembled by John Smith in the mid 19th century, and includes materials 
collected during his business travels. $b Includes some maps of London 
environs, western Canada, and Europe.

Beth


At 05:05 PM 1/21/2004 -0500, you wrote:

>Main entry for collection-level cataloging
>
>
>
>Once again, I apologize for forgetting to discuss the proposed DCRM(B) 
>appendix on collection-level cataloging. The editors (John Attig, Bob 
>Maxwell, Joe Springer, Manon Théroux, and me) did discuss it during our 
>day and a half meeting after the conference in San Diego. The issue of 
>collector main entry is one we would like to address sooner rather than later.
>
>
>
>I don't have the CSB on collection-level records in front of me, but 
>whether or not I'm right in assuming that the instruction for giving the 
>collector the main entry came from there, the editors need to be persuaded 
>that this is appropriate for the cataloging of printed materials. Section 
>D on "Elements of the catalog record", a) on 1XX field: Main entry heading 
>starts out well by emphasizing that title main entry is appropriate for 
>many collections, and for requiring that all items comprised by the 
>collection record have the same personal or corporate authorship. This is 
>in compliance with AACR2.
>
>
>
>We question the 2nd paragraph of section a) instructing that if a 
>collection is known by the name of a collector, generally enter that name 
>in a 1xx field. The editors are considering deleting that provision. 
>Naturally in such a case, the collector may be entered in a 7xx field. 
>Those of you with persuasive and/or passionate opinions please give us 
>your best shot. To DCRB-L please, so everyone can participate in the 
>discussion.
>
>
>
>
>
>________________________
>
>Deborah J. Leslie
>
>Folger Library
>
>djleslie at folger.edu
>
>
>

----------------------
Beth M. Russell
Head, Special Collections Cataloging
Assistant Professor
The Ohio State University Libraries
1858 Neil Avenue Mall
Columbus OH 43210-1286
614-247-7463
FAX 614-292-2015
russell.363 at osu.edu
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