While I have never, in all my years of cataloging, done anything like that (and now surely would never do, especially after today's discussion ;-)), I think that if I had encountered this record myself, I would have smiled and said, Now there's a cataloger who has perhaps had a long, hard day and wanted to end it on an upbeat note. I thought it was nice--thoroughly non-standard, of course, but rather refreshing.
(I certainly hope that our "rogue" cataloger/colleague didn't get in trouble over this.) Michael Bernhard Cataloger, Library Materials Support Services (formerly Technical Services) Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Library System 501 Copper Avenue NW Albuquerque, NM 87102 Tel: (505) 768-5190 Email: mbernh...@cabq.gov http://www.cabq.gov/library -----Original Message----- From: Resource Description and Access / Resource Description and Access [mailto:RDA-L@LISTSERV.LAC-BAC.GC.CA] On Behalf Of Deborah Tomares Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2011 2:05 PM To: RDA-L@LISTSERV.LAC-BAC.GC.CA Subject: [RDA-L] Subjective Judgements in RDA 300s???? I just cataloged the book corresponding to OCLC #702491897. When I looked at the record, the 300 read: 319 pages : |b illustrations (some coloured, all beautiful), maps ; |c 25 cm. I've corrected the spelling of "coloured" to American usage--is there an RDA provision I'm missing about this, or was it a typo? But the part I can't understand is the inclusion of "all beautiful". Are we allowed, under RDA provisions, to include value judgements about the illustrations? Are value judgements allowed elsewhere in cataloging under RDA? Under AACR2, we are supposed to be as objective as possible when creating records, and not allow personal biases in subjects, etc. But this is ridiculous. Aren't we supposed to just be transcribing in the 300 field? Is this a rogue cataloger, or is there a provision I should be cringing about now? Thanks in advance for all information (and potential public drubbing of CGU?). Deborah Tomaras, NACO Coordinator Librarian II Western European Languages Team New York Public Library Library Services Center 31-11 Thomson Ave. Long Island City, N.Y. 11101 (917) 229-9561 dtoma...@nypl.org Disclaimer: Alas, my ideas are merely my own, and not indicative of New York Public Library policy.
