Descriptive Bibliography

Course Information

Instructor: Deborah J. Leslie
Location: Los Angeles, California
Mode: In-person
Dates: August 6–10, 2007
Tuition: $995.00

not currently accepting applications

Description

Course is limited to 12 students

Aimed at catalogue librarians who find that their present duties include (or shortly will include) the cataloguing of rare books or special collections materials. Attention will be given primarily to cataloguing books from the hand-press period, with some discussion given to 19th and 20th century books in a special collections context. Topics include: comparison of rare book and general cataloging; application of codes and standards (especially DCRM(B)); uses of special files; problems in transcription, collation and physical description; and setting cataloguing policy within an institutional context.

This course is restricted to working cataloguers experienced in AACR2R, MARC, and general cataloguing principles and practices. No knowledge of early books is necessary. The goal of the course is to provide practice in each of the primary elements of the rare book catalogue record, so that students will be equipped to begin cataloguing their institutions’ rare book and special collections materials. In their personal statement, applicants should describe their experience with machine-readable AACR2 cataloguing and provide a brief description of the types and date range of materials they expect to catalogue with DCRB. In addition, applicants are requested to submit 1-3 typical bibliographic records of materials they currently are cataloguing, preferably original cataloguing of modern books or serials.

Requirements

In their personal statement, applicants should describe their experience with machine-readable AACR2 cataloging and provide a brief description of the types and date range of materials they expect to catalog with DCRM(B). In addition, applicants are requested to submit 1-3 typical bibliographic records of materials they currently are cataloging, preferably original cataloging of modern books or serials.

Course Readings:

BRING TO CLASS:
  • Descriptive Cataloging of Rare Materials (Books). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress Cataloging Distribution Service, 2007. ISBN: 970-0-8444-1162-0. Available online at http://www.loc.gov/cds/catman.html#rb. Please order early! 
  • Examples to Accompany Descriptive Cataloging of Rare Books. Chicago. 2nd ed.: ACRL, 1999. ISBN: 0-8389-8014-7. Available from ALA Publishing Services, 50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611 for $35.00 [10% discount for ALA members] plus $7 postage and handling [no discount]; telephone credit-card orders to 1-800/545-2433 [press 7 at the recorded message]. The cataloging portion is obsolete with the inauguration of DCRM(B), but we will be looking at title page images in class.
READ BEFORE COMING TO CLASS:
  • Descriptive Cataloging of Rare Books. Washington, DC: Library of Congress, 1991. ISBN: 0-8444-0690-2. Although superseded by Descriptive Cataloging of Rare Materials (Books), DCRB provides a good initial familiarization with rare book cataloging, especially for those new to it.
OPTIONAL PRE-COURSE READING:
Bibliographical issues

Stalker, Laura, and Jackie M. Dooley. “Descriptive Cataloging and Rare Rooks,” in Rare Books and Manuscripts Librarianship 7:1 (1992), 7-23.

Tanselle, G. Thomas. “Descriptive Bibliography and Library Cataloguing,” in Studies in Bibliography 30 (1977), 1-56.Tanselle, G. Thomas. “The Bibliographical Concepts of Issue and State, ” in PBSA 69:1 (1975), 17-66.

POST-COURSE TITLES OF POTENTIAL INTEREST:
Library systems & records

Raine, Henry, and Laura Stalker, “Rare Book Records in Online Systems,” in Rare Books and Manuscripts Librarianship 11:2 (1996), 103-118.

Guide to Rare Book Records in Online Systems, available online. A bit dated, but still useful in identifying aspects and features of online library systems necessary for appropriate indexing, searching, and display of rare materials and special collections. 

Overmier, Judith A. and Elaine M. Doak. “Provenance Records in Rare Book and Special Collections,” in Rare Books and Manuscripts Librarianship 11:1 (1996), 91-99.

Management issues

Bradshaw, Elaine Beckley and Stephen C. Wagner. “A Common Ground: Communication and Allegiance Between Cataloger and Curator for Improved Access to Rare Books and Special Collections,” in College & Research Libraries 61:6 (Nov. 2000): 525-534. Although leaving something to be desired in academic rigor, this article provides an overview of some of the issues involved in setting policy.

Taraba, Suzy. “Administering the cataloging of special collections materials,” in Rare Books and Manuscripts Librarianship 7:2 (1992), 87-90.

Special collections cataloging

Russell, Beth M. “Looking for Someone Special : Special Collections Cataloging, 1980-2000,” in Library Resources and Technical Services 47:4 (Oct 2003), 149-159.

Lundy, M. Winslow. “Evidence of Application of the DCRB Core Standard in WorldCat and RLIN,” Library Resources & Technical Services, v.50:1 (2006: Jan), p. 42-57.

ALSO BRING WITH YOU TO CLASS (IN ADDITION TO DCRM(B)):
  • Twelve copies of your institution’s rare book cataloging policy, if you have one and if feasible.
  • Twelve business cards, if you have them.
  • Definitions for the following terms (All sources are game; but look in John Carter’s ABC for Book Collectors or G.A. Glaister’s Encyclopedia of the Book if you are stumped).
    • format
    • signatures
    • letterpress
    • plate
    • integral
    • incunabula
    • cancel, cancellandum (cancellanda) cancellans (cancellantiae) 
    • unopened
    • uncut
    • half-title
    • recto
    • verso
    • press figures
    • catchword
    • direction line
    • ideal copy
    • Pollard & Redgrave
    • STC
    • Wing
    • ESTC

Offered

Credit

Completion of this course helps to meet requirements for one of the following certificate requirements:

  • the Descriptive Bibliography requirement for Certificate in Rare Books and Manuscripts
  • 1 of 2 elective credit courses for Certificate in Librarianship, Activism, and Justice