The Small Library/Chapter 8
A catalogue should be as nearly as possible an index to the classification of the Library. It may be compiled on various methods, but nowadays only three forms are generally used; the Dictionary, or alphabet of authors, titles, subjects, forms, etc., in one sequence; the Classed, in the order of the classification, with brief-entry indexes of topics, authors and titles; and Author catalogue plus subject indexes in separates sequences. The Dictionary catalogue is the most common form, and rules for its compilation are more numerous than for any other kind. A very complete code is that of Mr. C. A. Cutter, an American who did much original and influential work for librarianship. Another work chiefly on dictionary cataloguing is the Manual of Cataloguing by Mr. J. H. Quinn. Codes of rules applicable to all varieties of catalogue have been published by the British Museum, the Bodleian Library, the Library Association, the American Library Association, etc., and a joint-code by the two last-named bodies is in preparation. Most codes for cataloguing err on the side of allowing too many exceptions and alternatives to the general principle of particular rules, and this weakness is discussed in the Manual of Practical Bibliography, pp 47-57, by the present writer. Rules for promoting uniformity of method should not permit of exceptions of any kind, and the person applying them should not be allowed discretionary power to catalogue a book under a heading which strikes him as being preferable to some other form which is also allowed by the code. Such a rule as that which enjoins the use of an author's best-known name is simply ridiculous when critically examined. The rules attached to this chapter are just as necessary for small as for large libraries, and they have the advantage of being brief, compact and rigid. They also claim to be based upon the reasonable and natural principle of regarding family or blood names as the most accurate and proper for cataloguing purposes, especially as they agree with the headings used in most good biographical dictionaries. One of the most surprising anomalies in connexion with library cataloguing is the persistency with which certain librarians cling to the plan of entering living authors under pseudonyms, while ignoring entirely those of older writers. Although it is notorious that Mark Twain is the pseudonym of Samuel L. Clemens, and that baptismal name is printed on all his recent title-pages, there are hundreds of cataloguers who insist upon using Twain as the chief entry, instead of Clemens, with a bare reference from Twain. Yet these same gentlemen will Page:The small library. A guide to the collection and care of books (IA smalllibraryguid00browiala).pdf/101 Page:The small library. A guide to the collection and care of books (IA smalllibraryguid00browiala).pdf/102 write out in full as above; but pick out the known name in different type, or underline it; and in cases where there are a number of authors of the same name, arrange by the known and ignore the disused forename. Only write out in full the first forename, unless it is a disused one, e.g.—
Smith (Thomas J. W. T.).
3. Distinctions and Titles. Ignore designations like Reverend, Doctor, M.A., LL.D., Professor, Miss, etc., save when required by Rule 4, but note titles or offices which will serve to distinguish an author and indicate his status or authority, e.g.—
Stanley (Arthur P.) Dean.
Keppel (Sir Henry) Admiral.
Macdonald (Sir Hector) General.
Stubbs (William) Bishop.
Jessel (Sir George) Master of the Rolls.
4. Biographical Dates. Use birth and death dates, or other period dates, to distinguish authors of the same name, e.g.—
Smith (William) 1810-1870.
Smith— (William) 1815-1861.
Smith— (William) 1819-1890.
In cases where such means of identification are not available, use their professions or other distinctions, as in Rule 3.
5. 'Royal and other Dignitaries. Monarchs, Popes, and Princes generally, are to be entered at their ruling names in their vernacular forms, with references from other forms, and from family names, e.g.—
Charles II of Britain.
Stuart. See Charles II.
Gregory VII, Pope.
Hildebrand. See Gregory VII.
6. Noblemen. Enter all noblemen under their birth or family names, with references from their titles, e.g.—
St. John (Henry), Viscount Bolingbroke.
Bolingbroke (Viscount). See St. John (Henry).
Lubbock (Sir John), Baron Avebury.
Avebury (Baron). See Lubbock (Sir John).
7. Ecclesiastical Personages. Archbishops, Bishops, Cardinals, Patriarchs, etc., are to be entered under their family names where known, with references from titles, e.g.—
Magee (William C.) Archbishop.
York, Archbishop of. See Magee, etc.
Ebor, William. See Magee (William C.).
Saints are to be entered under the forenames by which they were canonized, e.g.—
Paul, Saint, not Saint Paul,
with references from family names if considered sufficiently important.
Friars, Abbots, Monkish chroniclers, etc., are to be entered under their forenames, e.g.—
Florence of Worcester, not Worcester, Florence of.
William of Malmesbury, not Malmesbury, William of.
References to be given from local to personal names.
8. Compound Names. All compound names, English, European and Oriental, to be entered under the first word, with references from the second or other words, e.g.—
Baring-Gould (Sabine).
Gould (Sabine Baring-). See Baring-Gould.
Watts-Dunton (Theodore).
Dunton (Theodore Watts-). See Watts-Dunton.
The only exception to this rule is when the first name is ascertained not to be the birth or family name, in which case Rule 1 must be observed.
9. Changed Names. Married women are to be entered under their birth or maiden names, unless they have consistently used their married names on their title-pages, e.g.—
Wood (Mrs. Henry) Ellen Price,
Oliphant (Margaret) M. Wilson,
but
Braddon (Mary E.), not Maxwell (Mrs. John).
Worboise (Emma J.), not Guyton (Mrs. E.).
Hamilton (Margaret), not Mrs. Argles or Mrs. Hungerford.
Palmer (Henrietta E. V.), not Mrs. Stannard or John Strange Winter.
In all cases the married name or names should be added thus—
Palmer (Henrietta E. V.) Mrs. Stannard, John Strange Winter; and the necessary cross references should be made.
10. Joint-Authorship. Enter under the first name mentioned on the title-page and make references from the others, e.g.—
Beaumont (Francis) and John Fletcher.
Fletcher (John) See Beaumont (Francis).
The works of two or more authors published together should be treated as if issued separately, e.g.—
Poetical works of Goldsmith, Gray and Falconer
catalogue as—
Goldsmith (Oliver) Poetical works.
Gray (Thomas) Poetical works.
Falconer (William) Poetical works.
But make also a collective entry thus, if thought desirable—
Goldsmith (O.), Thos. Gray and W. Falconer. Poetical works.
11. Editors, Translators, Commentators. The names of editors and translators of the works of other authors are to be entered as part of the title of such works, with cross references, e.g.—
Burns (Robert) Life and works. Edited by Robert Chambers, revised by William Wallace.
Chambers (Robert). See Burns (Robert).
Wallace (William). See Burns (Robert).
Editors or translators of collections or anthologies, or any work not definitely assigned to a particular author, are to be treated as the authors, e.g.—
Oxenford (John) trans. The Illustrated book of French songs.
Johnston (Peter) ed. The Charters of Kelross Abbey.
Commentators are to be treated as original authors, but a full entry must also be made under the name of the author, work or subject commented upon.
12. Pseudonyms. In conformity with Rule 1, the real names of authors who adopt pseudonyms must be used, with cross references from the assumed or pseudonymous names, e.g.—
Wilson (John) Christopher North. The Isle of Palms.
North (Christopher) See Wilson (John)
Initials, marks or symbols, and phrases, are to form part of the title, and be treated as anonyma e.g.—
Considerations on the late war, by G. W.
Poems, by XXX
Reflections on life, by One who has toiled at the bench.
Where such initials, marks or phrases, have been identified with real names, such real names, must, of course, be used. Cross references may be used in all cases, if Page:The small library. A guide to the collection and care of books (IA smalllibraryguid00browiala).pdf/108 Page:The small library. A guide to the collection and care of books (IA smalllibraryguid00browiala).pdf/109 Page:The small library. A guide to the collection and care of books (IA smalllibraryguid00browiala).pdf/110 Page:The small library. A guide to the collection and care of books (IA smalllibraryguid00browiala).pdf/111 Page:The small library. A guide to the collection and care of books (IA smalllibraryguid00browiala).pdf/112 Page:The small library. A guide to the collection and care of books (IA smalllibraryguid00browiala).pdf/113 the classification in manuscript form in sheafs or cards.
28. Supplemental Information. Note the following particulars of publication in the order and, if thought desirable, in the abbreviated forms here set down, and also on p. iii—
| Illustrations | = | ill., col. ill.[1] |
| Portraits | = | port. or ports.[1] |
| Maps | = | maps[1] |
| Plans | = | plans[2] |
| Facsimilies | = | fac.[2] |
| Diagrams | = | dia. |
| Tables | = | tab. |
| Genealogies | = | gen. |
| Music | = | mus. |
| Memoir | = | mem. |
| Glossary | = | glo. |
| Bibliography | = | bib. |
ORDER OF ENTRIES
Author.
Title.
Edition.
Place of Publication.
Date of Publication.
Imprint particulars, for old and rare books only.
Page:The small library. A guide to the collection and care of books (IA smalllibraryguid00browiala).pdf/115 Add number or press mark.
P. 270.10.
Foreman (John). The Philippine Islands, etc.
Example of the same slip with an annotation—
P 270.10
The two principal forms of manuscript catalogue now used are the 'Card' and 'Sheaf' systems, both of which have points of their own. The card system is a series of catalogue entries on single cards, which are stored on their edges in drawers or trays, and kept in order by various mechanical devices, such as rods, blocks, guides, etc. Additions can be made at any point, and the catalogue can be extended indefinitely on the principle of vertical expansion. The drawers or trays are usually kept in cabinets, and with complete sets of alphabetical or other guides, usually cost about 20s. per 1,000 entries. The sheaf system is a catalogue in book form, with single leaves capable of being moved about as required by means of adjustable screw bindings and other devices. These sheaves are usually placed on a shelf, and as each comprises a small division of the alphabet or classification as the case may be, they are easily handled, and hold considerably more than a card catalogue, because both sides of the leaves can be used, and the leaves are much larger than the cards. The cost varies from about 8s. 6d. to 10s. 6d. per 1,000 entries according to the size. For small libraries the sheaf system is probably the most suitable, both on account of its comparative cheapness and the ease with which the public can use it. It is also by far the best form for private libraries, and as it possesses unlimited powers of expansion, it is a library machine of great importance and utility. It is estimated that card catalogues cost about 1d. per 4 entries, while sheaf catalogues cost 1d. for 12 entries, or if both sides of the slips are used, 1d. for 24 entries.