I believe I’ve tracked down the ALA response that John refers to (part of a larger review of Chapter 3, in Sept 2007):
http://www.rda-jsc.org/docs/5rda-parta-ch3rev-alaresp.pdf
As John says, this response (excerpted below) articulates the same concerns we’ve recently raised:
“Treatment of early printed resources. ALA agrees with the specific provisions included for early printed resources. However, we continue to be concerned about the scope of these instructions. The limitation to “early” and to “printed” resources is artificial. Many of these instructions are equally applicable to resources from modern fine presses and could in
fact be useful for describing any resource where fuller or more precise description is desired. The revised Descriptive Cataloging of Rare Materials rules are intended to be applicable broadly to materials in special collections that require this kind of detailed description. The scope of the exceptions in RDA should be similarly broad, allowing the cataloging agency to determine what materials in their collections should be described in this way.
ALA also believes that the word “printed” has been used ambiguously in the past. In some cases it has been used to mean textual and in others to mean produced by a printing process. We would like to see RDA avoid the use of this term whenever possible.”
I could not track down, however, a JSC reaction to the above (assuming such was ever committed to paper).
I sympathize with Deborah’s thoughts about concentrating our (limited) resources where most useful. In my mind, the revisions to RDA proposed here are completely independent of the DCRM(B) revision, and certainly needn’t be undertaken by the DCRM(B) for RDA revision group—especially if there are others who feel strongly enough to see this forward.
Francis
From: dcrm-l-bounces at lib.byu.edu [mailto:dcrm-l-bounces at lib.byu.edu] On Behalf Of JOHN C ATTIG
Sent: Thursday, April 04, 2013 11:03 AM
To: DCRM Users' Group
Subject: Re: [DCRM-L] FW: RDA label "Early Printed Resources" -- revision proposal
You should be aware that the scope of "early printed resources" in RDA was raised by ALA in its responses to drafts of RDA. There was reluctance to broaden the scope to include more recent special collections, and the phrase and its definition were agreed upon.
This does not mean that the JSC would not be willing to reconsider the question, but you should be aware that this was an intentional decision and that the arguments you cite here were made at the time.
John Attig
ALA Representative to the JSC
jxa16 at psu.edu<mailto:jxa16 at psu.edu>
________________________________
From: "Francis Lapka" <francis.lapka at yale.edu<mailto:francis.lapka at yale.edu>>
To: dcrm-l at lib.byu.edu<mailto:dcrm-l at lib.byu.edu>
Sent: Thursday, April 4, 2013 9:01:32 AM
Subject: [DCRM-L] FW: RDA label "Early Printed Resources" -- revision proposal
RDA offers guidelines for “Early printed resources” in 14 distinct rules. At the end of this message, I append a compilation of each instance (thanks to Lori Dekydtspotter for fishing these out!). Of the 14 instances, the phrase “Early printed resource(s)” occurs as follows:
• In the title of a rule: 4 times
• As a label at the beginning of a rule, in conjunction with RDA exceptions: 8 times
• As in-line text: in all 14 instances
“Early printed resources” also appears in the RDA glossary, where it is defined as “Materials manufactured before the advent of machine printing in approximately 1825-1830.” This definition echoes a sentence from the definition of scope in DCRM(B): “DCRM(B) is especially appropriate for the description of publications produced before the introduction of machine printing in the nineteenth century.”
That scope paragraph in DCRM(B) continues: “However, it may be used to describe any printed monograph, including machine-press publications, artists’ books, private press books, and other contemporary materials.” This more inclusive application seems entirely lacking in RDA’s scope for “Early printed resources.”
We discussed this issue at the Midwinter meeting of BSC, where there was a consensus that RDA’s current handling of guidelines for “Early printed resources” is probably too limiting. Members of BSC agreed that it would be appropriate to propose a revision to: (a) the “Early printed resources” label, (b) the label’s definition in the RDA glossary, or (c) both. Any revision we propose would be submitted to CC:DA and (provided it is approved), from there to JSC.
At this time, I’d like to throw the discussion open to the greater wisdom of the list. I’ll begin with one possibility, bandied among members of the DCRM(B) for RDA revision group:
• For “early printed resources,” substitute “special collections resources”
• In the RDA glossary, define “special collections resources” in terms similar to the scope of DCRM(B): “ … especially appropriate for the description of resources produced before the introduction of machine printing in the nineteenth century. However, it may be used to describe any printed resource, including machine-press publications, artists’ books, private press books, and other contemporary materials.”
Note that this proposal has no immediate bearing on DCRM(B) or its revision. The revision to RDA would simply encourage the wider application of a set of RDA guidelines concerning special collections material, for catalogers who may never have the ability or inclination to apply DCRM.
Your thoughts and suggestions are desired.
Thanks,
Francis
“Early printed resources” in RDA
1.8.1. Numbers Expressed as Numerals or as Words—General Guidelines
Alternative: For early printed resources, transcribe numbers expressed as numerals or as words appearing in numbering of serials, date of production, date of publication, date of distribution, or date of manufacture in the form in which they appear on the source of information.
2.2.2.2. Resources Consisting of One or More Pages, Leaves, Sheets, or Cards (or Images of One or More Pages, Leaves, Sheets, or Cards)
Exception: Early printed resources. If an early printed resource (or a reproduction thereof) lacks a title page, title sheet, or title card (or image thereof), use as the preferred source of information the first of the following sources that bears a title …
2.8.4.1. Publisher's Name—Scope
For early printed resources, printers and booksellers are treated as publishers.
3.4.5.2. Single Volume With Numbered Pages, Leaves, or Columns.
Exception: Early printed resources. For early printed resources, record each sequence of leaves, pages, or columns in the terms and form presented. If the resource is printed in pages but numbered as leaves, record the numbering as leaves …
3.4.5.3.1. Numbered and Unnumbered Sequences
Exception: Early printed resources. For early printed resources, record unnumbered sequences of pages, leaves, or columns.
3.4.5.3.2. Inessential Matter
Exception: Early printed resources. For early printed resources, record pages containing advertisements (when this can be done succinctly) if those pages are: …
3.4.5.4. Change in Form of Numbering within a Sequence
Exception: Early printed resources. For early printed resources, record the numbering in the form presented.
3.4.5.8. Complicated or Irregular Paging, Etc.
Exception: Early printed resources. For early printed resources, record the paging, etc., in the form and sequence presented.
3.4.5.9. Leaves or Pages of Plates
Exception: Early printed resources. For early printed resources, if the leaves and pages of plates are numbered, or if there are both numbered and unnumbered plates, record each sequence of leaves and pages of plates in the appropriate terms.
3.4.5.14. Single Sheet
Exception: Early printed resources. For an early printed resource consisting of a single sheet designed to be used unfolded (whether issued folded or unfolded), include a count of the number of pages printed, not counting blank pages.
3.21.2.1. Item-Specific Carrier Characteristic of Early Printed Resource—Scope
An item-specific carrier characteristic of early printed resource is a characteristic that applies to the carrier or carriers of the specific early printed item being described and is assumed not to apply to other items exemplifying the same manifestation.
Item-specific carrier characteristics of early printed resources include rubrication, illumination, and other hand colouring, manuscript additions, and binding.
3.21.2.2. (Item-Specific Carrier Characteristic of Early Printed Resource)—Sources of Information
Use evidence presented by the resource itself (or on any accompanying material or container) as the basis for recording item-specific carrier characteristics of an early printed resource. If desired, take additional evidence from any source.
3.21.2.2. Recording Item-Specific Carrier Characteristics of an Early Printed Resource
For early printed resources, make notes giving details of pagination not recorded formally as part of the extent element (see 3.4.5.2<http://access.rdatoolkit.org/document.php?id=rdachp3&target=rda3-2689#rda3-2689>–3.4.5.13<http://access.rdatoolkit.org/document.php?id=rdachp3&target=rda3-2973#rda3-2973>), or on aspects of collation, the layout of sheets, etc., if they are considered important for identification or selection
3.22.2.9 (Note on Extent of Manifestation) Early Printed Resources
For early printed resources, make notes giving details of pagination not recorded formally as part of the extent element (see 3.4.5.2<http://access.rdatoolkit.org/document.php?id=rdachp3&target=rda3-2689#rda3-2689>–3.4.5.13<http://access.rdatoolkit.org/document.php?id=rdachp3&target=rda3-2973#rda3-2973>), or on aspects of collation, the layout of sheets, etc., if they are considered important for identification or selection.
_________________________________
Francis Lapka, Catalog Librarian
Yale Center for British Art, Department of Rare Books and Manuscripts
1080 Chapel Street, PO Box 208280, New Haven, CT 06520
203.432.9672 francis.lapka at yale.edu<mailto:francis.lapka at yale.edu>
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