IMHO, the attempted move in RDA towards suggestions/examples and away from attempted complete clarity is the best thing about RDA. Especially given the
historical variations in style in our catalogs, we need to move away from strict legislation of punctuation, capitalization etc. to concentrate on more important issues. I know that these debates about brackets and periods are all done with the user in mind,
but the time we spend looking for “THE way to do it” is out of proportion to the benefits of doing it “THE right way” as opposed to “one of several acceptable ways.”
Duke has not yet implemented RDA, but we will try to take a flexible approach, and I personally will be delighted when I find instructions with wording like
“or by some other means”
Amy
From: Program for Cooperative Cataloging [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Bothmann, Robert L
Sent: Wednesday, October 31, 2012 4:00 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [PCCLIST] Transcription of square brackets
Thanks Judy,
I knew I had seen that before, but was not able to find it in the RDA text search. But it is still written as a suggestion/example, not as THE way to do it,
therefore adding to the lack of clarity in my mind.
Bobby
***********************************
Robert Bothmann
Metadata & Emerging Technologies Librarian
Associate Professor, Library Services
Minnesota State University, Mankato
From: Program for Cooperative Cataloging
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of JSC Secretary
Sent: Wednesday, October 31, 2012 1:52 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [PCCLIST] Transcription of square brackets
Bobby,
The 2nd paragraph of RDA 2.2.4 addresses indicating that data has been taken from outside the source: "If information taken from a source outside the resource itself is supplied in any of the elements listed below, indicate that fact either by means of a note
or by some other means (e.g., through coding or the use of square brackets)."
Judy Kuhagen
On Wed, Oct 31, 2012 at 2:36 PM, Bothmann, Robert L <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
This is where I find RDA to be clear and unclear at the same time.
The principle of representation dictates we must transcribe the square brackets. That part is clear.
But then RDA is not clear in its instructions when it comes to the text vis a vis the examples. Nothing
in RDA says to record supplied information in square brackets, particularly in RDA 1.7 or any of the chapter 2 rules that instruct you to record probable places or names of publishers, for example, and certainly nothing in chapter 8.
The only guidance I can find is in the examples for supplied information which use square brackets
(see 2.8.2.6.2 as an example). I remember someone once saying that the idea here is that square brackets are one method of communicating supplied information, but there is no rule or standard that says we must use square brackets. We could simply record the
supplied data without square brackets and make a note that says that data element was supplied.
For what it’s worth, if I see square brackets on an RDA record in a title or access point I will
assume that they exist on the source and are not indications of supplied data.
Bobby
***********************************
Robert Bothmann
Metadata & Emerging Technologies Librarian
Associate Professor, Library Services
Minnesota State University, Mankato
From: Program for Cooperative Cataloging
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Charles Croissant
Sent: Wednesday, October 31, 2012 12:27 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [PCCLIST] Transcription of square brackets
If your bib record is being done using AACR2, wouldn't the 245 be:
245 10 $a (Prisciani) De accentibus
following the instruction in 1.1B1, the third paragraph?
I can't find an RDA equivalent for this provision to substitute parentheses for square brackets. It certainly seems like it would be best to continue this practice, since even under RDA, the use of square brackets continues to indicate something supplied by
the cataloger.
In your authority record, unless someone can find an instruction to the contrary, I'd be inclined to omit the square brackets you have used in your 400.
Charles Croissant
On Wed, Oct 31, 2012 at 11:47 AM, Jennifer B Young <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Greetings Colleagues,
A fellow NU cataloger has come across the following situation and we are stymied by how to proceed.
On the piece, the title is: [Prisciani] De accentibus
So we have 245 10 ‡a [Prisciani] De accentibus
While our bib record is being cataloged using AACR2, we are contributing a RDA authority record.
100 0_ ‡a Priscian, ‡d fl. ca. 500-530. ‡t De accentibus. ‡l Italian
400 0_ ‡a Priscian, ‡d fl. ca. 500-530. ‡t [Prisciani] De accentibus
We have not been able to find any guidance in either AACR2 or RDA on how to transcribe the square brackets. In our minds, square brackets usually denote supplied information of some sort. We don't want others to think that we supplied something we did not.
Thoughts and suggestions welcome!
Jennifer
Jennifer B. Young
Serials Catalog Librarian
Northwestern University Library
847.491.8978
[log in to unmask]
--
Charles Croissant
Senior Catalog Librarian
Pius XII Memorial Library
Saint Louis University
St. Louis, MO 63108