Cataloguing rules: author and title entries / compiled by committees of the American library association of the Library association.

Date:
1908
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Cataloguing rules: author and title entries / compiled by committees of the American library association of the Library association. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    ments with buildings and equipment on the other. The latter class also affords exceptions and variations which it may be well to note here. In the first place, institutions whose names begin with a proper name, e.g. the many universities, etc., which bear the names of founders or other individuals, would almost in- variably be thought of under this name rather than that of the place where located. Secondly, entry under a general institution for one which constitutes merely a branch or department of it is in many cases much to be preferred to independent entry under the name or place of location of the subordinate insti- tution. These considerations have caused a series of exceptions to be introduced after the general rule for institutions (of. 83-99). While open to the charge of inconsistency, it is the opinion of the Committee that the rules for societies and institutions, as they now stand, will serve to bring the vast majority of these bodies under the heading where they are most likely to be looked for in English and American libraries. The Committee realizes that these attempts to provide for exceptions and alternatives, as also the occasional use of the word “ may ” where a more peremp- tory form of statement might be preferred by many, will afford opportunities for criticism. In view of this fact it is appropriate to repeat here a quotation from Cutter’s Rules for a Dictionary Catalog, which at the author’s own suggestion was included in the introduction to the Advance edition of these rules in 1902: “The convenience of the public is always to be set before the ease of the cata- loger. In most cases they coincide. A plain rule without exceptions is not only easv for us to carry out, but easy for the public to understand and work by. But strict consistency in a rule and uniformity in its application sometimes lead to practices which clash with the public’s habitual way of looking at things. When these habits are general and deeply rooted it is unwise for the cataloger to ignore them, even if they demand a sacrifice of system and simplicity. That [the Committee has] always understood the public’s views, estimated correctly its power of changing them, and drawn the line in the right place between a conservative regard for custom and a wish to lead the public towards a desirable simplicity and consistency is too much to assume; but [we] have at least always looked for the reasons on both sides.” Mr. Cutter was, until his last illness, one of the most active members of this committee. His close connection with the work of the revision at a time when the 4th edition of his own rules w^s in course of preparation had no doubt much to do with bringing about a close agreement between the latter and the new A. L. A. Rules. Largely on account of this cordial cooperation of the author, it is possible in the present code to refer freely to “Cutter” whenever his rules contain a particu- larly full statement, or for other reasons ought to be consulted by the cataloger. In addition to “Cutter’s Rules” and the Library of Congress supplementary rules,* other codes are occasionally referred to, more especially the Eclectic * A few of the Library of Congress supplementary rules have been adopted with but slight modifications; others are printed as notes, this expedient being considered preferable to a reference because of the large number of libraries which are now using the Library of Con- gress printed cards.