Background

AACR2 treats unit symbols in the metric system as if they were abbreviations, i.e. it consistently puts a full stop after “cm”, “mm”, etc. However, these unit symbols are meant to be just that – symbols, independent of any language, just as the raised circle is a symbol for degrees or $ is a symbol for dollars.

The Bureau International des Poids et Mesures is the international organization responsible for maintaining the International System of Units (SI), as the metric system is officially known. They put out a brochure in English and French called The International System of Units (SI) (latest edition available on the World Wide Web at <http://www.bipm.fr/enus/6_Publications/si/si-brochure.html>). Chapter 5, “The writing of SI names and symbols,” says in section 5.2: “Unit symbols are not followed by a full stop (period), except as normal punctuation at the end of a sentence.” Similar language is found in ISO 1000 "SI Units and Recommendations for the Use of Their Multiples and of Certain Other Units" (section 4.5 “Rules for writing unit symbols”), and in ISO 31/0 “General Principles Concerning Quantities, Units and Symbols” (section 3.1.1 “Symbols”).

The ISBD (G), revised edition (1992) uses “cm” without a full stop in rule 5.3. The ISBD (ER) gives “cm” and “mm” without full stops in its list of recommended abbreviations in Appendix D.

In the interest of the internationalization of AACR2, unnecessary full stops should be eliminated from the text and the examples. This proposal lists all places where metric units are used in AACR2. There are some examples where the full stop should be retained because of what follows; these are listed separately.

General Revisions (other than examples)

0.28

CHANGE: Add sentence and substitute new example:
. . .
When an element ends with an abbreviation followed by a full stop or ends with the mark of omission and the punctuation following that element either is or begins with a full stop, omit the full stop that constitutes or begins the prescribed punctuation. Note: metric unit symbols such as “cm” and “mm” are not considered abbreviations.

                    261 p. ; 24 cm. – (Canadian Ethnic Studies
               Association series ; v. 4)
     not        261 p. ; 24 cm.. – (Canadian Ethnic Studies
               Association series ; v. 4)
                    1 computer optical disc ; 4 3/4 in. – 
               (Research Publications’ American journey)
     not        1 computer optical disc ; 4 3/4 in.. – 
               (Research Publications’ American journey)

RATIONALE: If metric symbols are no longer treated as abbreviations, the current example is meaningless. An example with an English measurement is needed.

6.5C3.   Playing speed

CURRENTLY:
. . .
Give the playing speed of a digital disc in metres per second (m. per sec.).

PROPOSED REVISION:
. . .
Give the playing speed of a digital disc in metres per second (m. per sec. m/s).

RATIONALE: m/s is the standard symbol for metres per second.

B.9.   ROMAN ALPHABET ABBREVIATIONS

CHANGE: Delete the following terms from the list:

centimetre, -s          cm.
kilometre, -s             km.
metre, -s                     m.
millimetre, -s           mm.

ADD:

B.16.   METRIC SYSTEM UNIT SYMBOLS

centimetre, -s                    cm
kilometre, -s		            km
metre, -s                               m
metres per second	    m/s
millimetre, -s                      mm

RATIONALE: Removing these terms from the list of abbreviations and creating a separate list of unit symbols will emphasize the point that they are not treated as abbreviations.

Index

CURRENTLY:

m. per sec., use of, sound recordings, 6.5C3

PROPOSED REVISION:

m/s, use of, sound recordings, 6.5C3

RATIONALE: to reflect the change proposed above for rule 6.5C3.

Changes in Examples

1.5D1

    1 wall chart : col. ; 24 × 48 cm.
    321 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 23 cm.
    6 microfilm reels ; 35 mm.

1.5D2

    12 paperweights : glass ; 12 cm. each in diam. in box 40 × 50 × 8 cm.
    1 stone : malachite ; in box 12 × 9 × 18 cm.

1.5E1

    Accompanied by: A Demographic atlas of north-west Ireland. 39 p. : col. maps ; 36 cm.

    387 p. : ill. ; 27 cm. + 1 set of teacher’s notes
    32 p. : col. ill. ; 28 cm. + 7 maps
    200 p. : ill. ; 25 cm. + 2 computer disks
    271 p. : ill. ; 21 cm. + 1 atlas

    1 score (32 p.) ; 26 cm. + 3 sound cassettes

    stereograph reel (12 pairs of fr.) : col. + 1 v. (12 p. : ill. ; 18 cm.)
    1 filmstrip (70 fr.) : col. ; 35 mm. + 1 v. (39 p. ; 22 cm.)
    271 p. : ill. ; 21 cm. + 1 atlas (95 p. : 85 col. maps ; 32 cm.)

1.7B10

    Printed area measures 30 × 46 cm.

1.7B16

    Issued also in 16 mm. format

1.7B22

    Facsim. of: A classification and subject index for cataloguing and arranging the books and pamphlets of a library. Amherst, Mass. : [s.n.], 1876 (Hartford, Conn. : Case, Lockwood & Brainard). 44 p. ; 25 cm.

1.9B1

    48 photos. : b&w ; 20 × 16 cm. + 1 v.
    5 v. : ill., facsims., ports ; 32 cm. + 1 atlas (135 p. ; 32 cm.)

    The Nonesuch Dickens / published under the editorial direction of Arthur Waugh ... [et al.]. – Bloomsbury [England] : Nonesuch, 1937-1938. – 23 v. : ill. ; 26 cm.

1.10B

    47 slides : col. ; 5 × 5 cm. + 1 sound cassette
    3 v. : ill. ; 30 cm.

1.10C2

    400 lesson cards, 40 answer key booklets, 1 student record, 1 teacher’s handbook, 1 placement test ; in container 18 × 25 × 19 cm.
    12 slides, 1 sound cassette, 1 booklet, 1 map ; in box 16 × 30 × 20 cm.

    1 filmstrip (39 fr.) : col. ; 35 mm.

    4 study prints : col. ; 29 × 88 cm. folded to 29 × 44 cm.
    1 v. (15 p.) ; 22 cm.
    1 folded sheet (4 p.) ; 22 cm.
    All in container 33 × 47 × 5 cm.

    42 various pieces ; in box 20 × 12 × 6 cm.

1.11F

    xiii, 91, [17] p. : ill., facsims. ; 22 cm.

    3 microfiches (251 fr.) : all ill. ; 10 × 15 cm. + 1 booklet

2.5D1

    Give the height of the item in centimetres, to the next whole centimetre up (e.g., if an item measures 17.2 centimetres, give 18 cm.). ...

2.5D2

    ; 20 × 8 cm.
    ; 20 × 32 cm.

2.5D3

    ; 24-28 cm.

2.5D4

    ; 48 × 30 cm. folded to 24 × 15 cm.

    1 folded sheet (8 p.) ; 18 cm.

2.5E1

    271 p. : ill. ; 21 cm. + 1 answer book
    271 p. : ill. ; 21 cm. + 1 v. (37 p., 19 leaves : col. maps ; 37 cm.)
    271 p. : ill. ; 21 cm. + 1 sound disc (25 min. : analog, 33¹/3 rpm, mono. ; 12 in.)

2.17C1

    ; 23 cm. (4to)
    ; 20 cm. (8vo)
    ; 33 cm. (fol.)
    ; 23 cm. (4to)
    1 sheet ; 48 × 27 cm.

3.0J1

    Ordnance Survey of Great Britain one inch to one mile map [GMD] : seventh series. – Scale 1:63,360. – Chessington : The Survey, 1952-1974. – 190 maps : col. ; 71 × 64 cm.

    [Plans of the Rideau Canal from Kingston Bay to Ottawa] [GMD] / [signed by] John By ... [et al.]. – Scales vary. – 1827-1828. – 28 ms. maps : col. ; 74 × 234 cm. or smaller. – Provenance stamps: Board of Ordnance, Inspector General of Fortifications; sheets AA3-6, 9-11, 13-32

    Ordnance Survey of Great Britain one inch to one mile map [GMD] : seventh series. – Scale 1:63,360. – Chessington : The Survey, 1952-1974. – 190 maps : col. ; 71 × 64 cm.

    [Plans of the Rideau Canal from Kingston Bay to Ottawa] [GMD] / [signed by] John By ... [et al.]. – Scales vary. – 1827-1828. – 28 ms. maps : col. ; 74 × 234 cm. or smaller

3.3B2

    Scale 1:250,000. 1 in. to 3.95 miles. 1 cm. to 2.5 km.

3.3B7

    Scale 1' per 2 cm.

3.5D1

3.5D1.   Give the height × width in centimetres, to the next whole centimetre up, of a two-dimensional cartographic item (e.g., if a measurement is 37.1 centimetres, record it as 38 cm.). ...

    1 map : col. ; 25 × 35 cm.
    1 wall chart ; 40 × 23 cm.
    1 ms. map ; 123.5 × 152.4 cm.
    1 map : col. ; 45 cm. in diam.
    1 map : col. ; on sheet 45 × 33 cm.

    1 map on 2 sheets ; 25 × 35 cm. and 30 × 35 cm.
    1 map on 4 sheets ; 30 × 40 cm. or smaller

    1 map in 4 segments ; 10 × 60 cm. on sheet 25 × 35 cm.
    1 map on 9 sheets ; 264 × 375 cm. on sheets 96 × 142 cm.
    1 map ; 120 × 276 cm.

    1 map on 3 sheets ; sheets 30 × 40 cm.
    2 maps on 6 sheets ; sheets 60 × 60 cm. or smaller

    1 map ; 20 × 31 cm. on sheet 42 × 50 cm.

    1 map ; 80 × 57 cm. folded to 21 × 10 cm.
    1 map : col. ; 9 × 20 cm. on sheet 40 × 60 cm. folded to 21 × 10 cm.

    1 map ; 45 × 80 cm. on sheet 50 × 44 cm.

    1 map ; on sheet 45 × 30 cm.

    60 maps ; 44 × 55 cm. and 48 × 75 cm.
    60 maps ; 60 × 90 cm. or smaller
    10 map sections in 25 segments : col. ; 100 × 90 cm. or smaller

3.5D2

    1 atlas (xii, 100, 32 p.) : 100 col. maps ; 29 cm.

3.5D3

    1 relief model : col., plastic ; 45 × 35 × 2 cm.

3.5D4

    1 globe : col., wood, on metal stand ; 12 cm. in diam.

3.5D5

    1 globe : col., plastic, on metal stand ; 20 cm. in diam. in box 40 × 12 × 12 cm.
    1 map : col. ; 200 × 350 cm. folded to 20 × 15 cm. in plastic case 25 × 20 cm.

3.5E1

    17 maps ; 90 × 96 cm. + 1 v. (xvii, 272 p. ; 25 cm.)

4.5D1

    6 p. ; 24 cm.
    [7] p. ; 24 × 30 cm.
    12 leaves : ill. ; 20 cm. folded to 10 × 12 cm.
    [1] leaf : parchment ; 35 × 66 cm. folded to 10 × 19 cm.

    131 leaves, bound ; 26 cm.

4.5D2

    20 items ; 20 × 30 cm.
    6 v. ; 30 cm.
    12 boxes ; 27 × 40 × 50 cm.
    6 v. ; 24-30 cm.

4.7B10

    In case 20 × 24 cm.

5.5D1

    1 miniature score (34 p.) : ill. ; 18 cm.
    1 score (20 p.) + 1 part ; 28 cm.
    4 parts ; 25-27 cm.
    1 score (vi, 63 p.) ; 20 cm. + 16 parts ; 32 cm.

5.5E1

    1 score (32 p.) + 5 parts ; 26 cm. + 1 sound tape reel
    1 score (vii, 32 p.) ; 28 cm. + 1 sound tape reel (60 min. : analog, 71/2 ips, mono. ; 7 in., 1/2 in. tape)
    1 score (30 p.) + 4 parts ; 24 cm. + 1 booklet

6.5D3

    1 sound track film reel (10 min.) : magnetic, 25 fps, centre track ; 16 mm.

6.5E1

    1 sound disc (50 min.) : analog, 33 1/3 rpm, stereo. ; 12 in. + 1 pamphlet (11 p. : col. ill. ; 32 cm.)

6.7B10

    Impressed on rectangular surface 20 × 20 cm.

7.5D2

    Give the gauge (width) of a motion picture in millimetres. If 8 mm., state whether single, standard, super, or Maurer.

    1 film reel (12 min.) : sd., b&w ; 16mm.
    1 film cassette (21 min.) : sd., col. ; standard 8 mm.
    2 film reels (ca. 30 min. each) : b&w ; 16-35 mm.

7.5E1

                1 film cassette (21 min.) : sd., col. ; standard 8 mm.
          + 1 teacher’s guide
    or       1 film cassette (21 min.) : sd., col. ; standard 8 mm.
          + 1 v. (28 p. : ill. ; 22 cm.)

    2 film cassettes (30 min. each) : sd., col. ; standard 8 mm. + 1 v. (35 p. ; 24 cm.)

8.5D1

    16 flash cards : col. ; 28 × 10 cm.
    1 flip chart (8 sheets) : double sided, col. ; 23 × 18 cm.
    24 photographs : b&w ; 13 × 8 cm.
    1 picture : b&w ; 20 × 25 cm.
    1 radiograph ; 38 × 38 cm.
    1 study print : col. ; 34 × 47 cm.
    1 technical drawing : blueprint ; 87 × 87 cm.

8.5D2

    1 filmstrip (50 fr.) : col. ; 35 mm.

8.5D4

    1 art print : lithograph, col. ; 28 × 36 cm.
    3 transparencies (15 overlays) : b&w ; 26 × 22 cm.
    2 art originals : oil on canvas ; 28 × 40 cm.-30 × 45 cm.

8.5D5

8.5D5.   Do not give the dimensions if they are 5 × 5 cm. (2 × 2 in.).

    1 slide : b&w ; 7 × 7 cm.

8.5D6

    1 wall chart : col. ; 244 × 26 cm. folded to 30 × 26 cm.
    3 technical drawings : blueprint ; 100 × 40 cm.-120 × 60 cm.

8.5E1

    1 filmstrip (70 fr.) : sd., col. ; 35 mm. + 1 set of teacher’s notes

8.7B10

    Size when framed: 40 × 35 cm.

9.5D1

    1 computer card ; 9 × 6 cm.

9.5E1

    1 computer disk : col. ; 31/2 in. + 1 v. (51 p. : ill. ; 20 cm.)

10.5D1

    1 sculpture : polished bronze ; 110 cm. high
    6 microscope slides : stained ; 3 × 8 cm.

10.5D2

    1 model (10 pieces) : col. ; 16 × 32 × 3 cm. in case 17 × 34 × 6 cm.
    1 diorama (various pieces) : col. ; in box 30 × 25 × 13 cm.
    1 jigsaw puzzle : wood, col. ; in box 25 × 32 × 5 cm.

10.5D3

    3 sculptures : marble ; 150-210 cm. high
    2 jigsaw puzzles : cardboard, col. ; in boxes 20 × 30 × 5 cm.-26 × 35 × 6 cm.

10.5E1

    5 models : col. ; in box 20 × 20 × 12 cm. + 1 teacher’s guide (3 v. ; 30 cm.)
    1 hand puppet : red and blue ; 20 cm. long + 1 sound disc (20 min. : analog, 33 1/3 rpm, mono. ; 12 in.)

11.5D2

    20 aperture cards ; 9 × 19 cm.

11.5D3

11.5D3.   If the dimensions of a microfiche are other than 10.5 × 14.8 cm., give the height × width in centimetres.

    1 microfiche ; 12 × 17 cm.
    2 microfiches ; 11 × 15 cm.-12 × 17 cm.

11.5D4

    1 microfilm reel ; 16 mm.
    1 microfilm cartridge ; 35 mm.

11.5D5

    5 microopaques ; 8 × 13 cm.

11.5E1

    1 microfilm reel ; 16 mm. + 1 manual
    1 microfilm reel ; 16 mm. + 1 v. (30 p. : ill. ; 22 cm.)

11.7B16

    Issued also on 16 mm. microfilm

11.7B22

    Reproduction of: Endymion / by the Author of Lothair. London : Longmans, Green, 1880. 3 v. ; 20 cm.

    Reproduction of: London : Printed for the editor, [1798-1807]. 1 score (3 v.) ; 32 cm.

12.5D1

    v. : ill. ; 25 cm.
    filmstrips : col. ; 35 mm.
    film cassettes : sd., col. ; standard 8 mm.
    v. : ill. ; 27-32 cm.

12.5E1

    v. : ill. ; 21 cm. +     slides
    filmstrips : col. ; 35 mm. +     booklets
    108 v. : ill. ; 25 cm. + 18 maps (col. ; 65 × 90 cm. or smaller)

12.7B10

    In container (28 cm.) with abstracts of contents

    Vols. 3-6: 30 cm.

12.7B11

    Vol. 7, no. 6 contains wall chart (col. ; 26 × 40 cm.)

13.5A

    Miss Mapp [GMD] / E.F. Benson. – 310 p. ; 23 cm.

    The moving toyshop [GMD] : a detective story / by Edmund Crispin. – p. 210-450 ; 30 cm.

    The loved one [GMD] / by Evelyn Waugh. – p. 78-159 ; 17 cm.

13.5B1

    The Tâo teh king, or, The Tâo and its characteristics [GMD]. – p. [45]-124 ; 23 cm.

13.6A

    The sacred books of the East [GMD] / translated by various oriental scholars and edited by F. Max Müller. – Oxford : Clarendon Press, 1879-1910. – 50 v. ; 23 cm.

In addition, insert a space between the number and the symbol in the following example:

7.5D2

CURRENTLY:

    1 film reel (12 min.) : sd., b&w ; 16mm.

PROPOSED REVISION:

    1 film reel (12 min.) : sd., b&w ; 16 mm

1.11F

    56 p. : col. ill. ; 16 × 17 cm. – (A Piccolo book)

2.7B11

    Accompanied by: A demographic atlas of north-west Ireland. 39 p. : col. maps ; 36 cm. Previously published separately in 1956

3.0J1

    Banbury [GMD] / Ordnance Survey. – [Ed.] B. – Scale 1:63,360. – Southampton : The Survey, 1968. – 1 map : col. ; 71 × 64 cm. – (Ordnance Survey of Great Britain one inch to one mile map : seventh series ; sheet 145). – “Fully revised 1965-66”

    Locks and dams at Merrick Mills, sect. no. 5 [GMD] / [signed by] John By. – Scale [1:1,050]. – 1827 Oct. 25. – 1 ms. map : col. ; 65 × 75 cm. – ([Plans of the Rideau Canal from Kingston Bay to Ottawa / signed by] John By ... [et al.] ; sheet AA29). – Provenance stamps: Board of Ordnance, Inspector General of Fortifications

    Sheet 145 : Banbury. – [Ed.] B. – Southampton, 1968. – 1 map : col. ; 71 × 64 cm. – “Fully revised 1965-66”

    Sheet AA29 : Locks and dams at Merrick Mills, sect. no. 5. – Scale [1:1,050]. – 1827 Oct. 25. – 1 ms. map : co1. ; 65 × 75 cm. – Provenance stamps: Board of Ordnance, Inspector General of Fortifications

8.7B22

    Reproduction of: Femme nue en plein air. 1876. 1 art original : oil on canvas, col. ; 79 × 64 cm. In Louvre Museum, Paris.

11.7B22

    Reproduction of: 2nd ed. London : Royal Geographic Society, 1924. 1 atlas (5 v.) : 450 maps ; 31 cm. (Atlases of the Western world ; no. 17)

    Reproduction of: Vol. 3, no. 58 (Apr. 21, 1841)-v. 4, no. 146 (Sept. 26, 1843). Manchester, Lancashire : Printed and published by John Gadsby, 1841-1843. 93 no. : ill., map, music ; 38-50 cm. Frequency varies. Continues: Anti-Corn Law circular. Continued by: The league

13.3A

    English history, 1914-1945 [GMD] / A.J.P. Taylor. – Oxford : Clarendon Press, 1965. – xxvii, 709 p., [1] folded leaf of plates : ill., maps ; 23 cm. – (The Oxford history of England ; v. 15). – Bibliography: p. 602-639

13.5A

    A view of Hampstead from the footway next the Great Road, Pond Street [GMD] = Vue de Hampstead de la chaussée près du Grand Chemin, rue du Bassin. – 1 art reproduction : b&w ; 30 × 35 cm. – Reprint of engraving originally published: London : Robert Sayer, 1745

13.6A

    Remembrance of things past [GMD] / Marcel Proust ; translated by C.K. Scott Moncrieff. – London : Chatto & Windus, 1957. – 12 v. ; 19 cm. – Translation of: À la recherche du temps perdu

26.6B

    xii, 270 p. : ill. ; 21 cm. – (Norton critical editions ; N306)