ALCTS - Association of Library Collections & Technical Services

CC:DA/TF/Rule 0.24/4

May 26, 1999

Committee on Cataloging: Description & Access

Task Force on Rule 0.24

Report to CC:DA, 1999 Annual


Please note that the purpose of these documents is to facilitate the work of the Committee and to provide a means for outreach to both library and non-library cataloging communities. The documents are intended for the exclusive use of CC:DA and its cataloging constituencies, and are presented for discussion in the ongoing process of rule revision. Under no circumstances should the information here be copied or re-transmitted without prior consultation with the current Chair of CC:DA.


CONTENTS
  1. Executive Summary
  2. Introduction
  3. History
  4. Problems with Rule 0.24
    1. The multiple characteristics problem
    2. The format variation problem
    3. Other functions and problems?
    4. Cataloguing of examples of items with multiple characteristics using current AACR2R
  5. Objectives for the Rule 0.24 Revision Process
  6. Options to Deal with Multiple Characteristics
    1. Option 1 to deal with multiple characteristics
    2. Option 2 to deal with multiple characteristics
    3. Option 3 to deal with multiple characteristics
    4. Option 4 to deal with multiple characteristics
  7. Options to Deal with Format Variations
    1. Option 1 to deal with format variations
    2. Option 2 to deal with format variations
    3. Option 3 to deal with format variations
    4. Option 4 to deal with format variations
    5. Option 5 to deal with format variations
  8. Change to Section Heading ‘Methods of Procedure’
  9. GMD’s — A Special Problem
  10. Introductory Chapter
Appendixes
  1. Report from the Subgroup on Option 1 for Multiple Characteristics
  2. Reorganization of Area 1 by Martha Yee
  3. Some Definitions from Various Sources
  4. A Quick Study of Where the Rules in Any Given ISBD Area Differ Based on Class of Material in Current AACR2R
  5. AACR2R Chapters Compared to ISBD
  6. AACR2R Chapters Compared to GMD’s and SMD’s
  7. AACR2R (United States) Compared to MARC 21
  8. Options Considered but not Worked on
  9. Discussion of the Definitions of Edition/Expression, Manifestation, Item, and Related Work


I. Executive Summary

In this report, we identify two major types of problems with rule 0.24 as currently written. First, there are problems in applying the current rule to items that have multiple characteristics, such as a serial digital map, or a digitized music manuscript. Secondly, there are problems in applying the current rule to a particular edition (or expression) of a work that exists in multiple physical formats (manifestations) or that exists in manifestations that have minor variations in distribution information but are otherwise identical in intellectual or artistic content. This second problem is sometimes referred to as the multiple versions problem.

We suggest 4 options for revising rule 0.24 to improve the handling of items with multiple characteristics in AACR2. In addition, we suggest 5 options for revising rule 0.24 to improve the handling of minor variation in physical format or in distribution information, i.e. variation at the manifestation level. For each option, we suggest language for a revised text of rule 0.24.

Note that since rule 0.24 is designed to instruct cataloguers in the use of the current chapters of AACR2R, some potential changes in rule 0.24 can involve change in the current organization of chapters of AACR2R. For some options, therefore, our recommendations involve addition of a chapter or chapters, or reorganization of the current chapters based on other criteria besides the current one of ‘class of materials.’


Items with multiple characteristics

Option 1 recommends changing the text of rule 0.24 in part to read “It is a central principle of the use of part I that description should be based first on one of three forms of issuance: monograph, serial, or integrating entity, and subsequently on the other chapters in part I (chapters 2-11) which collectively represent classes of materials which share certain common characteristics. After form of issuance has been determined, choose the chapter (class of materials) most applicable in describing the  item and in determining the chief source of information as necessary to make it clear to the user of the bibliographic record what the item looks like physically and what its contains. For items made up of several types of material, see 1.10. For items with multiple characteristics, cataloging agencies or user groups may determine what characteristics should receive preferential consideration in the descriptive sequence.”

It is further recommended:

  1. that we leave the current chapters 1-11 of AACR2R in the order they now are and with their texts essentially  intact.
  2. that we expand existing chapters (or write additional chapters) as necessary to provide for electronic resources, digitized and microform reproductions  and originals. For electronic resources indicate that when a bibliographic item is remotely accessed on a computer, the description can be based on the observed or otherwise known characteristics of the item.
  3. that we add, however it is deemed best, a discussion of integrating resources.

Option 2 recommends changing the text of rule 0.24 to emphasize that it is important to bring out all aspects of the item being described, including its content, its carrier, its form of issuance, its relationship to other manifestations of the same edition/expression of the same work, and whether it is published or unpublished. In addition, it is recommended that the descriptive chapters of AACR2R (chapters 1-13) be reorganized based on ISBD area.

Option 3 recommends changing the text of rule 0.24 to indicate that for items with multiple characteristics, the chapter that occurs first in AACR2R should take precedence over any chapter that occurs later. In addition, it is recommended that the descriptive chapters of AACR2R (chapters 1-13) be reordered to put content chapters before carrier chapters, and the form of issuance chapter (12) at the end.

Option 4 recommends that option 1 be adopted in the short term, and option 2 be adopted in the long term.


Format variation

Option 1 recommends that the text of rule 0.24 be modified to remove the term ‘physical’ and indicate that it is permissible to base the description on an original rather than a reproduction when that is possible without research into the nature of the original.

Option 2 recommends that current practice on when to make a new record, as found in OCLC guidelines, CONSER guidelines, and LCRI 1.0, be codified and added to AACR2.

Option 3 recommends that the MULVER guidelines be adopted by AACR2. This would call for a single record approach for reproductions, but not for any other type of manifestation change.

Option 4 recommends that the ISBD(ER) approach of ignoring minor physical variations below the SMD level be adopted by AACR2.

Option 5 recommends that any manifestation variation, whether it be change in physical format or change in distribution information, be ignored, as long as it is not connected with change in the edition/expression of the work.

In addition, the Task Force recommends that, whatever approach is adopted, rules concerning GMD’s be made compatible with the approach taken, and that an introductory chapter concerning the principles underlying AACR2 be added to the code.

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