As an example, the cataloger has an early edition of Jane Eyre. The author name on the title page is Currer Bell. Although Currer Bell is a pseudonym for Charlotte Bronte, we wouldn't want the cataloger to enter under Bell, Currer rather than Bronte, Charlotte, because it is commonly known -- now -- that Charlotte Bronte is the author of Jane Eyre. I think RDA assumes the cataloger is working in a bibliographic present that has a bibliographic past, and what is commonly known changes as time passes. If Donald Westlake initially publishes The Outfit under the pseudonym Richard Stark, but 10 later re-publications credit The Outfit to Donald Westlake on the title page, common usage eventually trumps 9.2.2.8. I hope that makes sense.
Steven Arakawa Catalog Librarian for Training & Documentation Catalog & Metada Services Sterling Memorial Library. Yale University P.O. Box 208240 New Haven, CT 06520-8240 (203) 432-8286 steven.arak...@yale.edu -----Original Message----- From: Resource Description and Access / Resource Description and Access [mailto:RDA-L@LISTSERV.LAC-BAC.GC.CA] On Behalf Of Kathie Coblentz Sent: Tuesday, October 15, 2013 6:33 PM To: RDA-L@LISTSERV.LAC-BAC.GC.CA Subject: Re: [RDA-L] Pseudonyms under RDA On Tue, 15 Oct 2013 21:45:08 +0000, Arakawa, Steven <steven.arak...@yale.edu> wrote: "The question came up, as I recall, at one of the Bibco training sessions, with Voltaire as the example. If I recall correctly, the trainer referred to RDA 9.2.2.3: "When choosing the preferred name for the person, generally choose the name by which the person is commonly known. The name chosen can be the person’s real name, pseudonym, title of nobility, nickname, initials, or other appellation." At this point in time, the author is no longer known by his various pseudonyms; he is 'commonly known' as 'Voltaire.' " That is one way to look at it (and I like it). However there is that word "generally," and the same 9.2.2.3 goes on to say: "When a person is known by more than one name, see additional instructions on choosing the preferred name at 9.2.2.6–9.2.2.8." Which takes me to the instructions on "Individuals with More Than One Identity" in 9.2.2.8. And there is no caveat there to apply them only in cases where the cataloger has decided that the individual is not "commonly known" only by his real identity. One of the things impressed on me in RDA training was that the distinction between "contemporary authors" and others was no longer made when deciding the fate of authors who used pseudonyms. Therefore, for non-contemporaries, the instruction to "choose, as the basis for the heading, the name by which that person has come to be identified in later editions of his or her works, in critical works, or in other reference source" no longer exists. -------------------------------------------------------- Kathie Coblentz, Rare Materials Cataloger Collections Strategy/Special Formats Processing The New York Public Library, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building 5th Avenue and 42nd Street, Room 313 New York, NY 10018 athiecoble...@nypl.org My opinions, not NYPL's
