EDITORIAL By Ruth Carter
ABSTRACTS
Cataloging Southeast Asian Language Materials: The Case of the Thai Language.
By Chalermsee Olson
ABSTRACT. Cataloging and accessing non-roman languages, such as the languages in the
JACKPHY group, have been better served because of the inclusion of vernacular languages in
their bibliographic records. However, Southeast Asian languages such as Thai, Lao or even
Burmese present other problems for catalogers because only romanized versions of these
languages are present in current bibliographic records. The problems in cataloging and
accessing the materials in these languages occur not only because of the romanization
system but also due to the nature of the languages themselves. This paper presents a
number of problems related to the cataloging of Thai language materials.
Changing cataloging rules in relation to changing patterns of publication .By
J. H. Bowman. MA, MA, PhD. E-mail: j.bowman@ucl.ac.uk
ABSTRACT. Changes in rules for cataloging certain categories of printed material are
examined, namely: anonymous works, including those described as being 'by the author of'
another named work; pseudonymous works; edited works, i.e. those consisting of collections
of writings by several authors; and conference proceedings. The relevant rules from the
British Museum, the 1908 joint code, the Bodleian, Cambridge University Library and AACR2
are discussed. Samples of London publications taken in specimen years between 1841 and
1991 show that there has been a decrease in anonymous works and in works with personal
authors, offset by a sharp increase in multiple authorship, edited works and conference
proceedings.
The Nexus of Subject Analysis and Bibliographic Description: The Case of Multipart
Videos.By Katherine H. Weimer.
ABSTRACT. Intellectual access to multipart works is not adequately provided for when these
materials are cataloged in collective set records. An alternative is to catalog the parts
separately. This method increases intellectual access by providing more detailed
descriptive notes and subject analysis. As evidenced by the large number of records in the
national databases for parts of multipart videos, catalogers have made the intellectual
content of multipart videos more accessible by cataloging the parts separately rather than
collectively. Although their motivation is not entirely clear, it appears that some have
reversed the traditional cataloging process to begin with subject analysis, resulting in
the intellectual content of these materials driving the bibliographic description.
Suggestions for determining when multipart videos are best cataloged as sets or separately
conclude the article.
CUTT-x: An Expert System for Automatic Assignment of Cutter Numbers. By
Dobrica Savic.
ABSTRACT. This article deals with the process of cutter classification, i.e., assignment
of cutter numbers for specific monographs. In other words, the focus is placed on the
process of finding an appropriate alpha-numeric representation for the monograph's author
or its title, in the event that an author is missing. The importance of the research which
formed the basis for this article, lies in the fact that an old classification problem was
solved using a new approach. The solution reached, provided higher classification accuracy
and resulted in saving classifier's time and energy. The higher accuracy and better time
and energy use were the initial goals for striving toward an automatic cutter
classification system. Once developed, tested and installed, it allowed classifiers to
concentrate more on other aspects of book classification.
Queens Borough Public Library's Guidelines for Cataloging Community Information.By
Judith A. Ranta.
ABSTRACT. Currently, few resources exist to guide libraries in cataloging community
information using the new USMARC Format for Community Information (1993). In developing a
community information database, Queens Borough Public Library formulated their own
cataloging procedure for applying Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, 2nd. ed., Library of
Congress Rule Interpretations, and USMARC Format for Community Information to community
information. Their practices include entering corporate names directly whenever possible
and assigning LC subject headings for classes of persons and topics, adding
neighborhood-level geographic subdivisions. The Guidelines were specially designed to aid
non-catalogers in cataloging community information.
CATALOGING NEWS Elizabeth N. Steinhagen, News Editor
BOOK REVIEW Valerie Bross (California
State University--Stanislaus) reviews:
Classification: Options and Opportunities. Edited by Alan R. Thomas (Binghamton, NY:
Haworth Press, 1995).
