Jonathan Rochkind said:
>I understand why people want to include ISBD punctuation, and have no
>significant complaint --
In my view, ISBD punctuation is one of the least significant and
helpful facets of ISBD, and that too often "ISBD" is assumed to mean
ISBD punctuation. We've never attempted to use ISBD punctuation as an
aid in machine manipulation, and don't intend to.
Far more important is the international standardization of the
selection and order of elements, based on centuries of trial and
error. Also important is an agreed upon set of language neutral
inclusions, allowing the free international exchange of descriptive
cataloguing records.
I will say two things in favour of ISBD punctuation: the ISBD "/" for
statement of responsibility freed us from having to supply "[by]",
"[par]", etc. in the language of the text; the punctuation helps us to
understand a bibliographic description in a language or script we
do not read well.
__ __ J. McRee (Mac) Elrod (m...@slc.bc.ca)
{__ | / Special Libraries Cataloguing HTTP://www.slc.bc.ca/
___} |__ \__________________________________________________________
