Rare Book Cataloging Terms

Rare Book

a book in a collection due to its age, scarcity, unique features, historical significance, or irreplaceable nature

codex

a technical term for the form of the book as we are used to it

Cutter number

part of a call number that narrows down the subject of a book and allows for endless expansion to the collection, named after Charles Ammi ______

Dewey Decimal System

classification systems used in public libraries, sort by subject/discipline

Library of Congress Classification System

classification system used by most academic/research libraries

Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records (FRBR)

A conceptual framework for cataloging interoperability (catalogs communicating to each other)

work

an idea or concept (ex: Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain)

expression

the specific form of an object (ex: an english language novel text)

manifestation

the physical format of an object (ex: A first edition U.S. printing)

item

The singular example of an object (ex: an original binding vs same book but rebound")

bibliography

the study of books

descriptive bibliography

record of information that notes physical info as it relates between book copies of the same edition

analytical bibliography

record of information that notes physical info such as production errors, handwritten notes in the margins, pages missing, etc.

Hand Press Period

1454 - ca. 1830, the era where books were made up of hand-made paper

Machine Press Period

post 1830, the era where books were not made up of hand-made paper

Anglo-American Cataloging Rules (AACR2)

descriptive cataloging standard designed to computerize card catalogues as expanded storage made it possible to capture more info than would fit on cards

Descriptive Cataloging for Rare Material - Books (DCRM(B))

Cataloging standard for physical description of rare books

Resource Description and Access (RDA)

descriptive cataloging standard, meant to replace the previous one, support linked data, and incorporate FRBR concepts

Linked Data

metadata/cataloging info that is not in bibliographic records but instead connected by URIs

Rare Books and Manuscripts Section (RBMS)

ALA division that promotes “the interests of librarians who work with rare books, manuscripts, and other types of special collections”

Machine Readable Cataloging (MARC21)

cataloging encoding standard designed by the Library of Congress to help them interact with bibliographic info., the current encoding standard

BIBFRAME

encoding standard made by the Library of Congress to support compatibility with linked data

Online College Library Center (OCLC) Connexion

catalog that manages bibliographic info online (using WorldCat) across multiple libraries

International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)

worldwide organization that supports interest of librarians and library users

Program for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC)

international organization that uses accepted standards to expand access to collections

minimal v core v full

three levels to describe a collection, only basic works - standard/essential works - extensive collection of works

catalog conversion

the process of digitizing or changing the format of a collection’s bibliographic information

monograph

a specialized book, that is all-encompassing of the subject it explores

DCRMR

updated to DCRM(B) that incorporates RDA

curator

person who oversees the building of a collection

bibliographer

person who researches the materials in a collection and complies information

cataloger

person who records information on collection in bibliographic records