Bibliography

Today's word is "bibliography". Most commonly, it means a list of books, films, videos, etc. but in a technical sense, as "descriptive" or "analytical" bibliography, it can mean "the science of the transmission of literary documents." Classic works on the subject include McKerrow's Introduction to Bibliography, and Gaskell's New Introduction to Bibliography, which gives the definition above, attributing it to Sir Walter Greg.

"...by transmission, he meant not only the genealogy and relationship of variant texts, but also the evolution of particular texts in the processes of their production and reproduction." (Gaskell, 1979, p.1).

While this science can indeed result in lists of imprints, the terms "Bibliographer", or "subject bibliographer", are often applied to librarians in academic institutions who study and keep track of the materials produced and used in some sphere of inquiry - in whatever forms they occur. In this sense, "bibliographer" and "book selector" are nearly synonyms.

Cataloguing

We have spoken of the Dewey Decimal and Library of Congress Classification schemes. Tonight, we will be discussing the activity of Cataloguing. The catalouger's manual used in the United States, Canada, Britain, is the Anglo American Cataloguing Rules, Second Edition, Revised (AACR2R, 1988).. It was produced by a joint committee of the American Library Association, the Library Association (UK), and the Canadian Library Association, and is derived from several earlier manuals. We will be discussing the roles of these associations, and of the place of international standards in greater detail later on in this course.

When we speak of the activities of a library's "Technical Services" section, we normally mean the processes involved in acquiring, describing, and preparing materials for circulation. Catalougers in technical services departments may be involved with classifying materials, describing them according to cataloguing rules, and assigning subject headings according to yet another set of rules, such as those found in the Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH).

As we mentioned, classification or "class" numbers are used to situate a work within some predetermined scheme embracing "all knowledge". For example, LC class numbers beginning with "K" are used for law books (films, software...), while the "Z" range is used for works useful in library science. The Dewey range "0-99" is used for general works, like encyclopaedias, while the "800" range is used for history and geography. The classification number, sometimes augmented by a "Cutter" number to add specificity, situates the book or material within the scheme of knowledge, and also provides a shelf location for the item. Thus, the physical arrangement of the library reflects an underlying conceptual arrangement. Classification is merely one part of the activity of cataloguing. Describing works, and assigning subject headings to them are different but equally important activities.

According to AACR2R, a catalogue is a list of materials in a collection. It contains bibliographic descriptions, created in accordance with known and presumably universal rules. A cataloguer obtains information to be used in a bibliographic description from a "chief source of information". With a printed book, this is primarily the the book's "title page" - both its recto (front) and its verso (back). With AACR2R, the units of the bibliographic description were designed with automation in mind from the outset. The units of the description translate directly into "fields" in a book's MAchine Readable Cataloguing (MARC) record.

For instance, the AACR2R rule 1.1 establishes the "title and statement of responsablity area" of an item's description. This information is eventually encoded in the "245 tag" of a MARC record. The author's name is encoded in a field identified with a numeric tag in the "1xx" range, and information about the publisher and place of publication will be encoded in a "3xx" tag. Here is a simplified example:
 

Note the "04" before the 245 tag. This is called the "indicator" position, and in this case, it is being used to tell the indexing software to skip the word "The" and the following space, when indexing the title. The "$a", $b", etc. are called "subfield codes", and they are used to refine the basic tags further. Both tags and subfields can repeat within a record. This makes updating easier, and lends flexibility to the indexing process. For instance, you can index on specific subfield codes, or perform "global" updates more easily when subject terms become obsolete. Subject terms are arrived at "by warrant", based on the way people use terms in everyday language. For instance, the qualifier "Computer network", is no longer needed when we talk about the Internet, so this term could probably be deleted from the description given above.

Here are some actual MARC records as the computer sees them. Of course, users never see these records in this format - the tags are used to create friendly screens for users, and to define the terms which will be indexed by the system. Most library automation systems index data from the 1xx, 2xx, and 6xx fields - that is authors, titles, and subjects.

Sample MARC Records

01167nam 2200217 a 4500001001300000008004100013039001800054 050002200072082001600094110002300110240002600133245037700159 260009300536300002100629500002400650500003500674501013700709 610003900846650004000885650002400925| 84220472 |850813s184 4 enk 00010 eng |0 $a2$b3$c3$d3$e3|0 $aBX5145$ b.A4 1844d|0 $a264/.03$219|20$aChurch of England.|10$aBook o f common prayer|14$aThe Book of common prayer, and administr ation of the sacraments, and other rites and ceremonies of t he church, according to the use of the united Church of Engl and and Ireland :$btogether with the Psalter or Psalms of Da vid, pointed as they are to be sung or said in churches and the form and manner of making, ordaining, and consecrating o f bishops, priests, and deacons.|0 $aOxford :$bUniversity Pr ess ;$aLondon :$bSold by E. Gardner and by G.B. Whittaker,$c 1844.| $a645 p. ;$c26 cm.| $a"Great primer 8vo."| $aUnpag ed, excepting p. 583-645.| $aWith: A new version of the Psa lms of David / by N. Tate and N. Brady. Oxford : University Press ; London : Sold by E. Gardner, 1844.|20$aChurch of Eng land$xLiturgy$xTexts.| 0$aAnglican Communion$xLiturgy$xTexts .| 0$aFore-edge painting.|#

00686nam 2200181 a 4500001001300 000008004100013039001800054050002400072082001600096100001800 112245007500130250001600205260006000221300004000281500007900 321500007700400700002700477| 82462525 |820603c19811977paua 00011 eng |0 $a2$b3$c3$d3$e3|0 $aPS3554.I33$bB6 1 981|0 $a813/.54$219|10$aDidion, Joan.|12$aA book of common p rayer /$cJoan Didion ; illustrated by Oscar Liebman.| $aLim ited ed.|0 $aFranklin Center, Pa. :$bFranklin Library,$c1981 , c1977.| $a[12], 262 p. :$bcol. ill. ;$c23 cm.| $a"Privat ely printed, and individually signed by the author"--Prelim. p. [1]| $aAccompanied by: "Notes from the editors" (22 p. : ill., ports. ; 19 cm.)|10$aLiebman, Oscar,$d1918-|#

00692cam 2200133 i 45 000010019000000080041000190500021000600820012000811100023000 93240002600116245035600142260003500498300002500533| 753002 92 //r844|760609s1844 enk 00000 eng |0 $aBX514 5$b.A4 1844| $a264/.03|20$aChurch of England.|10$aBook of c ommon prayer|04$aThe Book of common prayer and administratio n of the sacraments & other rites & ceremonies of the Church according to the use of the Church of England :$btogether w ith the Psalter or Psalms of David, pointed as they are to b e sung or said in the churches, and the form and manner of m aking, ordaining, and consecrating of bishops, priests, and deacons.|0 $aLondon :$bW. Pickering,$c1844.| $aca. 600 p. ; $c36 cm.|#

00919cam 2200169 i 450000100190000000800410001905 000210006011000230008124000260010424501760013026000330030630 0003800339500018800377500004600565500007700611700006100688| 75332567 //r844|760723r18551853enkac 00010 eng |0 $aBX5145$b.A4 1855|20$aChurch of England.|10$aBook of commo n prayer|04$aThe Book of common prayer /$cornamented with wo od cuts from designs of Albert Durer, Hans Holbein, and othe rs. In imitation of Queen Elizabeth's Book of Christian pray ers.|0 $a[London] :$bW. Allan,$c1855.| $a[716] p. :$bill., port. ;$c19 cm.| $aA reissue of the ed. published by W. Pic kering in 1853 under title: The Book of common prayer and ad ministration of the sacraments ... together with the Psalter or Psalms of David ...| $aNew t.p. prefixed to that of the 1853 ed.| $aThe woodcuts are copied from Richard Day's A b ooke of Christian prayers.|11$aDay, Richard,$d1552-1607?$tA booke of Christian prayers.|#

00977ca m 2200169 45000010018000000080041000180500021000590820011 000801000031000912450480001222600031006023000035006334900049 00668500003400717650004200751650001400793| 69019363 //r85| 710301r19701703nyua 00000 eng |0 $aTT144$b.M93 197 0| $a684.08|10$aMoxon, Joseph,$d1627-1700.|10$aMechanick ex ercises;$bor, The doctrine of handy-works, applied to the ar ts of smithing, joinery, carpentry, turning, bricklaying, to which is added, Mechanick dyalling: shewing how to draw a t rue sun-dyal on any given plane, however scituated; only wit h the help of a straight ruler and a pair of compasses, and without any arithmetical calculation.$cWith an introd., tabl e of contents, and captions explaining the 26 plates by Benn o M. Forman. Charles F. Montgomery, editor.|0 $aNew York,$bP raeger$c[1970]| $axxxvii, 352 p.$billus.$c21 cm.|0 $aPraege r reprints on arts, crafts, and trades| $aOriginally publis hed in 1703.| 0$aIndustrial arts$xEarly works to 1800.| 0$aS undials.|#

00722cam 2200157 i 450000100180000000800410001805 000210005908200080008010000310008824501770011926000690029630 0005600365500006600421650004200487650003500529| 79015526 / /r85|790518r19791703nyuaf 00010 eng |0 $aTT144$b.M9 3 1979| $a670|10$aMoxon, Joseph,$d1627-1700.|10$aMechanick exercises :$bor, The doctrine of handy-works : applied to sm ithing, joinery, carpentry, turning, bricklayery ... /$cby J oseph Moxon ; introd. by John S. Kebabian.|0 $aScarsdale, N. Y. :$bEarly American Industries Association,$c1979.| $aix, 352 p., [23] leaves of plates :$bill. ;$c21 cm.| $aReprint of the 3d ed., 1703 printed for D. Midwinter, London.| 0$aIn dustrial arts$xEarly works to 1800.| 0$aSundials$xEarly work s to 1800.|#

01046cam 2200241 i 4500001001800000008004100018 020002400059050002200083082001300105100003100118240002400149 245012300173250001100296260005000307300003600357500004300393 500023000436504003000666500002000696650002500716700003700741 700002600778| 77020468 //r83|780810r1978 nyua b 00110 eng | $a048623617X :$c$7.95|1 $aZ244.A2$bM93 1978| $a686.2/24|10$aMoxon, Joseph,$d1627-1700.|10$aMechanick exer cises|10$aMechanick exercises on the whole art of printing ( 1683-4) /$cby Joseph Moxon ; edited by Herbert Davis & Harry Carter.| $a2d ed.|0 $aNew York :$bDover Publications,$c197 8, c1962.| $alviii, 487 p. :$bill. ;$c24 cm.| $aFolded lea f attached to p. 3 of cover.| $aOriginally reprinted in 195 8 by Oxford University Press, London, from a copy of Mechani ck exercises, vol. II, 1683, in the Bodleian Library (Gibson 200). This ed. represents a reprint of the Oxford Universit y Press second ed.| $aBibliography: p. 409-444.| $aInclude s index.| 0$aPrinting, Practical.|10$aDavis, Herbert John,$d 1893-1967.|10$aCarter, Harry Graham.|#

Basics of Universal Bibliographic Control

Universal Bibliographic Control (UBC), is one of the "core programmes" of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA). Today, with librares, especially national libraries, all on the Internet, the idea of UBC is becoming more of a reality. In short, it is an attempt to catalogue the entire intellectual output of the planet.

The IFLA International Office for UBC was founded in 1974. It acts as a clearing house and coordinating body for publications and projects involving UBC. The IO for UBC often acts in conjunction with Unesco, FID and the various agencies which recommend standards. It was established so that duplication of effort could be reduced. We will be discussing international standards in greater detail later on in the course, when we discuss library automation and the activities of professional organizations.

The basic idea of Universal Bibliographic Control stresses activities undertaken at the national level. We say that an item has been "controlled" if a surrogate of that item, in the form of a bibliographic description, has been recorded either in an electronic database, or otherwise, with some agency charged with this task.

Each country should look after its own bibliographic control, but should inform other countries of new publications within a specified time (weeks or months). Ideally, "the greatest possible number of countries" should participate.

UBC involves collecting and cataloguing materials of national value - published by, in, [or about] a country, [or placed in that country's national library]. It also may involve legal deposit, and record exchange. Thus, implementing a UBC programme involves publishers, librarians, legislators, [government] funding agencies, non- governmental organizations, apropriate standards organizations, and communications conventions. Ideally, UBC is part of a National Information Policy.

What does it involve?

At minimum, a programme for Universal Bibliographic Control would involve the following activities:

Setting up a reliable way of identifying and collecting do- cuments. This implies that publishers agree and use standard identification means, such as ISBN/ISSN numbers.

Setting up a national legal deposit policy, (and someplace to put the books). This means establishing a national library, a national librarian, and an organizational structure, and presupposes a legal framework, which in turn presupposes a "national will".

Publication of a national bibliography in a form agreed to by other participants - typically, using ISBD. This involves some choices - whether to publish cumulative monthly issues and/or annual volumes, (and nowadays, if you were setting one up, whether to issue it in machine readable form only, or in hard copy too).

Exchange of records with other participating nations. This requires rules for encoding the data - including rules for a minimum set of data elements for inclusion (AACR2R).

Setting up rules about the structure of the (MARC) bibliographic records. This includes which MARC tags contain which data elements.

Automating, (and retro-conversion of, RECON), national bibliographies. There is an attendant, (but not insurmountable), problem of national MARC variations. Much effort is now being spent on trading records in UNIMARC format, among the countries of the EEC, even though these countries use their own national MARC formats for day to day work. The LC MARC distribution service is attempting to introduce major modifications to LCMARC, (doing away with "material types" in preference of a "unified" format for all media), and this may eventually have some impact as well.

Exchange, and perhaps, one day, a "universal" resource instead of a (geographically) distributed database. At this point, IFLA, FID, ISO, and Unesco can assist directly in encouraging cooperation. If you intend to send records around "within weeks or months", it is a good idea to have a common international exchange format, as well as universal communications protocols.

"It is useless talking of bibliographies, if beforehand, or concurrently, one does nothing to ensure that there are: publishers of books, books adapted to the socio-economic environment of a country, readers for the books, specialists to handle them, and sufficient financial and equipment resources."
-- Table ronde sur le CBU etc. Grenoble, 22-25 Aug., 1973. (IFLA Publications #3). Munich : Verlag Dokumentation, 1975.

Copyright © Christopher Brown-Syed 1995-2001. Disclaimers.