This page documents cataloging related questions and issues that affect OCLC Data Sync implementation, and the decisions that have been made in consultation with Metadata Standards working group and other stakeholders.
Manuscripts and Archives
OCLC Data Sync guidelines for manuscripts and archives (OCLC criteria)
(Email from Carrie Morrison, OCLC Metadata Operations, Consulting Database Specialist on Oct. 17, 2019). Criteria for Archival/Manuscript material include:
- Archival Control (Leader/08) value “a”
- Record Type (Leader/06): Can include a, t, c, e, f, d, p
- Type t – Manuscript language material, including all unpublished. i.e. not commercially published, theses
- Type f – Manuscript cartographic material
- Type d – Manuscript notated music
- Type p - Mixed materials
040 $e values for manuscript and archival descriptive rules of cataloging
- See the code list for Description Convention Source Codes.
- For 040 $e codes that have been superseded, if the cataloging of the record has been updated to follow the new code, then the 040 $e should be updated. If not, then the code should stay as-is.
- General guidelines from OCLC’s Bib Formats:
Material | Guideline |
Archival and rare material | Determine the form of material and use the appropriate code. For example, for a rare book, use code a. For a manuscript letter, use code t. For all unpublished theses, use code t. For a collection of mixed materials, use code p. For online resources that are reproductions of manuscripts, use codes a, c, and e (the original format code). Code Ctrl to indicate archival control status of the material. |
Recommended Best Practice for Harvard's MARC bibliographic records for manuscripts and archival collections to sync with OCLC's Worldcat:
- Original cataloging and record enhancements should be done in OCLC Connexion. Archival and manuscript bibliographic records will be eligible for own record replace, which allows our manuscript records to replace matching records in WorldCat provided these three criteria are met:
- Matches on OCLC number
- Matches on Date Entered (008/00-05)
- OCLC symbol in 040 $a and $c of the WorldCat master matches the OCLC symbol of the library represented in the 852 of the incoming record.
INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING FIELDS: - Type of Record (Leader/06) values d, f, p, t NOTE: If the material is a reproduction and has appropriate 008 and 533 fields than the record will NOT replace the OCLC master record.
- Type of Control Leader/08) value “a” (Archival) The material is described according to archival descriptive rules, focusing on the contextual relationships between items and on their provenance rather than on bibliographic detail. All forms of material can be controlled archivally.
- 040 subfield $e dacs or appropriate manuscript and rare materials cataloging conventions (dcrmmss, dcrmb, dcrmc, dcrmg) The specific set of rules for description may be found at http://www.loc.gov/standards/sourcelist/descriptive-conventions.html
Summary of past and current coding practices for Manuscripts and Archival Collections at Harvard
| Questions (hl-cat 11-22-2019) | Archives | Baker Library | Berenson | Divinity | Houghton | Law | Schlesinger |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Which descriptive conventions are used? | Current practice is DACS and sometimes dcrmg. About 50% of records have no 040, or no 040 $e. Many have $e dacs or $e local (prior to introduction of DACS in 2005). | Majority of archival and manuscript collections are coded appm or dacs. We also use dcrmmss and amremm for manuscript material in our rare book collection. | Current practice is dacs for collections and single item manuscripts. Previously used appm. | Currently use appm, but many manuscript records lack $e in 040 | Current practice is dacs for collections and single item manuscripts. Previously used appm. | ||
| If using the rare book descriptive conventions (like dcrmb), are the record coded "a" in Leader 08 (archival control) | Do not use rare book descriptive conventions. | Generally no. | No | No | |||
| Do you code "a" in Leader 08 for manuscript materials (archival control)? | Yes, for current cataloging. Older records pre-date this byte definition. | Generally yes. It is the current best practice for materials cataloged according to dacs. | Yes. | No, very little use of archival control byte | Yes | ||
| Is original cataloging done in Connexion? | No, original cataloging is done in Alma. | Yes | No, original cataloging is done in Alma | Yes, for the past two years | Yes | ||
| Are enhancements done in Connexion? | No, all work is done in Alma. | Generally yes, but it's a new best practice. | Not currently. | Yes, for the past two years | Yes |
Cataloging reproductions of Manuscripts
Facsimiles
- Describe as format of reproduction, not as manuscript
Leader 06: (Bks/language material) a
Leader 06: (Scores/Notated music) c
Leader 06: (Maps) e
If record for original ms exists (not always or even often), ADD:
77508 $i Facsimile of (item): $a [Main entry heading]. $t [Title]. $d [Place, publisher, and date of publication]. $h [Physical description] $w (OCoLC) [Record control number] (Use insert from cited record option)
Microforms and CD-ROMS:
- Describe as the original manuscript
- Leader 06: Coded as manuscript material (t, d, f)
- 008 Record type: a Microfilm (use the correct record type code for the format)
- 533 $a Microfilm. (+ subfields for publication and extent)
Former practices (Multiple formats are on 1 bibliographic record): - Physical Description Fixed Field (007): is 'h' (Microform or appropriate code for form of item)
- Reproduction note (843) in holding record: $a (Microfilm, Microfiche, Electronic reproduction, etc.)
- Data Sync publishing: Form of item is coded a or b depending on 843 $a and 007
- Data Sync publishing: Form of item is coded q when 007/00-01 is 'co'
If record for original ms exists (not always or even often):
77508 $i Reproduction of (item): $a [Main entry heading]. $t [Title]. $d [Place, publisher, and date of publication]. $h [Physical description] $w (OCoLC) [Record control number] (Use insert from cited record option)
Theses