Kathy et al.,
For ease of reference, I'm citing the LCRI, before I discuss the
application :
from LCRI 26.2:
2) Trace a reference from each variant that affects
the primary elements of the name. For the normal, inverted heading this
means variations in all elements to the left of the comma and in the first
element to the right of the comma. Do not trace a reference that would
normalize to the same form as the heading or a see reference on the same
record, or to the same form as a heading on another record.
3) Refer from other
variants (i.e., those that do not affect the primary entry elements) when it is
judged the access to the catalog would be improved, e.g., when the heading is a
common-sounding name.
Here's my (purely personal) approach to #3: I usually do a
personal name browse search of the authority file on OCLC. If the name and the
x-ref would be separated by about a screen or more from each other, I add the
x-ref, even if the variant doesn't affect the primary elements of the name.
In the case of the Benjamin headings, the original heading and
the desired x-ref would be about 1/3- 1/2 of a screen apart; also, the variant
form appears in the first 670 of the original NAR. So I personally wouldn't
add an x-ref. But one screen's separation is purely an arbitrary measure. My general
advice would be to follow your best judgment in this case, and to add the x-ref
if you think it's likely to avoid the creation of a duplicate NAR.
George
George Prager
Head of Cataloging
New York University Law School Library
voice: 212-998-6340
fax: 212-998-6587
email: [log in to unmask]
From: Program for
Cooperative Cataloging [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Kathy
Winzer
Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 2010 3:22 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [PCCLIST] duplicate records caused, in part by our rules
Colleagues,
We avoid adding cross references when the element in question is not the first
one to the right of the comma. When an author uses his middle initial, where he
previously did not, we do not provide a reference. I have in hand two name
authority records for the same person that I think resulted from this practice.
When cataloging In pursuit of justice by Richard B. Zabel and James J.
Benjamin, Jr., the cataloger did not notice that n86002004 Benjamin, James,
1965- included a 670 for the CIP t.p. (James J. Benjamin, Jr.) and created n
2008056697 for that form of name. Since the title page of the original title
dropped the middle initial, the cataloger creating the first record dropped it
from the heading and did not provide a cross reference to the fuller form
(since the difference was not the first element to the right of the comma).
When I add information to the older record from the newer one, is it ok if I
now add that fuller form? So a 400 for Benjamin, James J., 1965- ? But
not for the duplicate, Benjaman, James J., Jr.? I would like to avoid a repeat
of the duplication next time Mr. Benjamin changes his mind about how his name
should appear, but I am not always sure of how many cross references would be
helpful.
Thanks for any advice,
Kathy
--
Kathleen M. Winzer
Catalog Librarian
Robert Crown Law Library
Stanford Law School
Stanford, CA 94305-8612
650-723-0343 (voice)
650-723-8657 (fax)