[DCRB-L] Main entry for collectors

[R. Arvid Nelsen]

Thanks for this clear line of argumentation.  I was debating with myself
the need for a follow-up to Jackie's e-mail, whose argument was merely
we can be foreward thinking or backward, without a clear argument of the
merits of or need for the main entry.  I also think some explanation is
required to counteract the argument also put forth that the statement is
taken from APPM and therefore (?) can be dropped.

Kudos!
Arvid

R. Arvid Nelsen
Special Collections Cataloger
University of California, San Diego
Mandeville Special Collections Library, 0175S
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla, CA 92093-0175
858/534-6766

>>> russell.363 at osu.edu 01/22/04 10:22AM >>>
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 
----------------------