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SPECIAL   COLLECTIONS   CATALOGING   (SCCAT)  

Cataloging Guidelines: Specific Collections



Comic Book Copy Cataloging

Revised June 16, 1999


SEARCHING

  1. Logon to OCLC PRISM

    1. Click on the PRISM icon on Windows 95 and the computer will automaticly log you on the system.

    2. Using OCLC use the scan title search to locate your record.
      1. Type sca ti followed by the full title of the comic book.
      2. Hit F11 key to send. (Remember the ENTER key does not work in OCLC)

    3. A list of titles is retrieved. Find your title in the list (It should be the highlighted line). You may have to go through several layers of lists to locate your title. Not every title will find a match and many may find more than one match.

    4. If you do not find a match, go to the section on Putting short records on OSCAR.

    5. If you find several records, use the one which will require the fewest changes.

    6. If you have only one match, or when you have decided on the one record to use from a list of record print the record and place the record in the save file.
      1. At the home position, Type save and hit F11.
      2. WRITE the save number on the printout.


  2. Editing OCLC copy

    1. Check to be sure the copy is acceptable.
      1. Serial format
      2. Basic author title, publishing information available.

    2. Check Overstreet, or other reference materials as used in CGA
      1. Has the serial ceased
      2. Has the title changed
      3. Has the frequency/reqularity changed.
      4. Has the numbering changed.

    3. If a major change has occurred a new record may be required, check with the CGA cataloger.

    4. If the serial has ceased, is it shown on the OCLC record. If yes, continue regular cataloging procedures. If no, correct the OCLC record.
      1. Change the PUB STAT to d
      2. Change date 2 to the date of the last issued piece.
      3. In the 260 field, add the ending date.
      4. In the 362 field add the ending volume/number and dates

    5. If the record is acceptable, begin editing the record. Check the Fixed Field
      1. Enc lvl all acceptable except 0 (order level)
      2. Rec stat, all acceptable except b (blank= order status)
      3. S/L must be 0 and not 1 (latest entry)
      4. Dates 1 & 2, must correspond to the known dates for the serial you are cataloging.
      5. Check Lang. It must match the language of the piece.
      6. Ignore the rest of the Fixed field.

    6. Check and edit the Variable Fields
      1. Check Main Entry field (1xx). There is normally not a single person responsible for a comic book, and therefore no 1xx field. Sometimes there is a uniform title to be used.
        1. Check the indicators, they should be 0b, and delete any non-filling characters
        2. In cases where 2 or more comic books were published with identical titles (245 field), the record for the later one(s) should have a uniform title with a qualifier to differentiate them.
        3. Most cases the place of publication (from 260) is the qualifier in the uniform title, if they were all published in the same place,, use the place of publication AND the beginning date of publication.
            EXAMPLE:
              Conqueror
              Conqueror (Worchester, England)

    7. Check the 2xx fields. The 245 field title must match the piece in hand. If the title matches, check the other title information and go on to the the next field. If not: (Some changes do not require new records)
      1. Any change beyond the first 5 significant words and NOT including a change in scope/subject
      2. Abbreviated vs full form
      3. Arabic numbers vs roman numerals
      4. Hyphenated vs unhyphenated
      5. Initialism/acronyms with vs without separating punctuation
      6. Dates in numbers vs spelled out
      7. Variant spellings of the same worl
      8. One word vs two-word compounds (with or without hyphens)
      9. Signs/symbols vs spelled-out
      10. Singular vs plural forms
      11. Addition/deletion/change of Asmall worlds@ (articles, prepositions, conjunctions)
      12. Addition/deletion of name of issuing body at end o title.
      13. Change in punctuation
      14. Fluctuating titles -tow or more titlese used on different issues.
        1. According to regular pattern
        2. Most issues carry one title with a few interspersed issues with other titles.
        3. Clearly publisher did NOT intend to change title.
      15. If the change in title matches one of the above go on the next field, if the change is significant check with the CGA cataloger

    8. For the other title information, check the indicators as blow and adjust if necessary. Report any serious errors of fact.
      1. 210 0b Delete field
      2. 212 field is obsolete, delete from any record.
      3. 222 0x Delete field.
      4. 240 0x (delete any non-filing characters, they are not allowed in this field)
      5. 246 make sure indicators will generate correct note, if no note is required use 30 as your indicators. For all others
          10 portion of title
          11 parallel title
          12 distinctive title
          13 other title information
          14 cover title
          15 added title page
          16 caption title
          17 running title

    9. Does the publisher and place of publication match, if yes go on to the next field, In no:
      1. If the change is in place of publication, only change the place of publication and make a note (500) in the record.
      2. If the change is minor in the publisher, change and make a note.
      3. Any other change, check with the CGA cataloger.

    10. Does the date fit in the pattern of the serial, if yes go on the the next field. If no check with the CGA cataloger. If there is no beginning date to the serial and you know the date from your research, please add the date to the record

    11. If the 265 field is present, please delete this field.

    12. Check the physical description (300 field)
      1. Since your piece should be a serial the designation should be v. If your serial has ceased publication you can fill in the completed numeration.
      2. Use the term ill. for black and white illustrations and col. ill for the colored illustrations. If both use ill. (some col.)
      3. Check the height of the serial, use centimeters. If the record lacks the c subfield, add it to the record.

    13. In the 310 field it is OK to change the phrasing to match OSUL usage (see list)

    14. In the 321 field it is OK to change to match OSUL usage. (see list)

    15. Delete any 350 field.

    16. Check the 362 field. If your item is complete, add the closing information,. If it is not complete, leave as is. (As long as the information is complete)

    17. Is there a series on the piece. If no go on to the next field. If yes, search the OCLC authority file, If you find it trace the series as found. If not found trace it as a 440 as it is written on the piece.

    18. Read all 5xx fields for accuracy & change if incorrect.
      1. If a 520 note is found, indicators should b 0b.
      2. If a 580 note is found, be sure note accurately reflects the relationship of the titles.

    19. Check the 65x fields.
      1. If you find very general subject heading which do not indicate a real subject, delete these.
          EXAMPLES
            Comic books, strips, etc.
            Western comic books, strips, etc.
            Romance comics
            Science fiction comic books, strips, etc
            Horror comic books, strips, etc.
      2. Retain other subject in 600-651 b0 if they fit the subject of the comic books.
      3. If there are no subjects and the topic of the comic book appears to need them, check with the CGA cataloger
      4. Check for tagging errors. Be sure |v is used for form subdivisions
          EXAMPLE
            |v Comic books, strips, etc.

    20. Retain all 655 fields.

    21. Check the 7xx fields.
      1. Check the 700-711 fields for accuracy.
      2. Delete any 75x-76x fields
      3. For any 78x fields check to be sure the indicators do convey the current relationship. Check the related OCLC copy to be sure the title does appear in that form in those records in the 245 field.

        Preceding Entries
        780 00 Continues:
        780 01 Continues in part:
        780 02 Supersedes:
        780 03 Supersedes in part:
        780 X4 Formed the union of:

          -if 2 titles do each as 780 04
          -if more than 2 do all in 780 04 and write a 589 note
        780 05 Absorbed:
        780 06 Absorbed in part:
        780 07 Separated from:

        Succeeding Entries
        785 00 Continued by :
        785 01 Continued in part by:
        785 02 Superseded by:
        785 03 Superseded in part by:
        785 04 Absorbed by:
        785 05 Absorbed in part by:
        785 X6 Split into A and B

          -if split into 2 titles, do both as 785 06
          -if split into more than 2 do each as 785 06 and make 580 note
        785 X7 Merged with A to form B
          -If A & B are 1 title each, doas two 785 07
          -If either A or B involves more than 1 title do each as 785 17 and write a 580 note

        Non Specific Relationship Entry (None of the above)
        787 1b Use with 580 note to explain.

    22. Ignore, except for: a. 840 Delete, replace with an 830 field if necessary. b. 855-999 Delete if present.


  • Add new information as needed.

    1. Names:
        If you add new personal or corporate names in 7'xx, you should "justify" them in a note, unless their role is otherwise clear from the content of the record.

    2. Titles:
        If you add 246 (variant title), be sure indicators will generate the correct note. If distinctive title (of individual issue) added, give issue number in subfield |f
          EXAMPLE
            246 14 Superman is back |f no. 5
        If you add 780/785, be sure the indicators will generate the correct note. Include the lCCN of the related OCLC copy in the subfield |w, if possible. Check with the CGA cataloger where no OCLC copy is found for the earlier/later titles.

    3. Companion titles:
        In the case of companion title relationships, link the titles by using a note in each record and an added entry in the record of the companion title.
          EXAMPLE:
          500
           
          500
          730 00
           
          		 A companion title is also published: Elvira=s house of mystery special. (In the first record)
          Companion title to: Elvira=s house of mystery.
          Elvira=s house of mystery. (In the second record) The first indicator of the 730 is for non-filing characters. Be careful of indicators)

        If the companion title was cataloged on OCLC with "special" in the edition field instead of as part of the title, just make a variant title added entry for the long form in the second record.

          EXAMPLE
          245
          246 13
          250           		Hypothetical title:
          Hypothetical title special edition
          Special ed.
        This way it can be retrieved by either search.

    4. Donor Notes
        Routinely add a 590 note naming know donor(s). Use a period at the end of the note. Make this the last note 5xx on the worksheet. See attached list of donor codes.
          EXAMPLES
            590     Gift of Shel Dorf
            590     Gift of Shel Dorf and Terry Waltermire.

    5. Subjects
        Do not add new subject heading to the worksheet. If subjects are needed, attach a note describing the topic and the CGA cataloger will find the correct LCSH terminology.


  • Call numbers

    1. The class number is constructed of SPEC. Plus the MSU-type number. Write the call number on the OCLC printout as Field 099, in place of the 090 field. Each subfield |a prints on a separate line on the cataloging card. Eight spaces maximun in each subfied |a
        EXAMPLES:
          099     SPEC. |a PN |a 6728.2 |a D4 A33
          099     SPEC.| a PN |a 6728.45 |a E87 F66
          099     SPEC. |a PN |a 6728.45 |a S454 |a B45454
      If there=s an MSU call number on OCLC, accept the class-number portion unless it=s really wrong. You may need to adjust the cutter portion.

      In borderline cases, use your judgement to decide what to class as U.S. versus foreign. Keep in mind what is most useful for CGA. In cases of doubt, ask Lucy Caswell where she prefers to file it

      Keep a shelflist file of call number that you have used, so that each new one can be fitted in the sequence. You can use the Cutter table as a rule of thumb, but the most important thing is to fit each new number into the existing shelflist context.

    2. U.S. Comic Books. For U.S. comic books use the basic call number SPEC. PN 6728 subarranged in 3 levels: first by era of first publication (decimal divisions), second by publisher (first cutter) and thired by title (2nd cutter)

      Decimal divisions for era:

      SPEC.PN6728
      SPEC.PN6728.1
      SPEC.PN6728.2
      SPEC.PN6728.3
      SPEC.PN6728.4
      SPEC.PN6728.45
      SPEC.PN6729.5
       
      SPEC.PN6728.6       		Early (to 1935) and unusual formats (e.g. Big Little Books and tabloids)
      Golden Age (1935-1949)
      Fifties (1950-1959)
      Silver Age (1960-1969)
      Seventies (1970-1979)
      Underground comic books (Beginning about 1967)
      New wave comix, minis, other amateur and self-published stripzines (beginning about 1980- )
      Nineties (1990- )
      First cutters are assigned for publisher and remain the same under all decimal divisions. This .M3 always means Marvel Comics Group, whether under SPEC.PN6728.3 or SPEC.PN6728.5 (See list)

      The second cutters are mostly alphabetical by title. The exception is for title changes. In the case of a title change, choose the letter by the best known of the various titles (usually first), and arrange them in order by using the extensions with A0"

        EXAMPLES:
          SPEC.PN6728,5 M3 S65
          SPEC.PN6728,5 M3 S6501
          SPEC.PN6728.5 M3 T3
          SPEC.PN672.8.5 M3 T301
          SPEC.PN6728.5 M3 N5
          SPEC.PN6728.5 Me T501           		Spitfire
          Codename Spitfire
          New teen titans
          Tales of the new teen titans
          New Teen titans, vol. 2 (started over)
          New titans
      Reserve all the "0" extensions for this usage. Reserve "1" endings to use for companion titles with e.g. "special", "annual" in the title.
        EXAMPLES
          SPEC.PN6728.5 D3 D65
          SPEC.PN6728.5 D3 D651           		Doc Savage
          Doc Savage annual

    3. Foreign comic books There are call number ranges defined for : Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, spain. All other foreign countries are lumped together as "other"

      For Great Britain, France, Germany, Italu, and Spain, use the "by title" number from the sequence:

      SPEC.PN6738
      SPEC.PN6748
      SPEC.PN6758
      SPEC.PN6768
      SPEC.PN6778       		Great Britain
      France
      Germany
      Italy
      Spain
      DO NOT subarrange by era or publisher. Just use one cutter, for title.
        EXAMPLE: SPEC.PN6738.A22 (British)

      For "other", the basic number is PN6790. The first cutter should be used to indicate country and the second cutter for title. The first (country) cutter should end in "4" to indicate that subarrangement is by title.

        EXAMPLES:
          SPEC.PN6790.J34 A7
          SPEC.PN6790.C34C3           		(Japanese)
          (Canadian)


  • Holdings and production

    1. Add OSU# to the 049 field.
    2. Add the constant data "comics" to the record
      1. At the home position, Type acd comics var and hit F11






    COMIC BOOK CATALOGING
    STATISTICS

    Name: _____________________________________Date: ______________________________________

    New on OCLCNew on OSCARCopyDups and AV
    VolsTitlesVolsTitlesVolsTitlesVolsTitles
     
















    		       





    APPENDIX 1

    Donor Codes


    Written in pencil in the upper right corner of the acid free envelopes:

    B
    BW
    C
    CK
    D
    E
    F
    J
    K
    KS
    L
    M
    MD
    O
    P
    R
    RL
    S
    SF
    SM
    TE
    TW
    W
    WC
    X
    Y     		= Book Nook (some may be marked BN)
    = Bill Woggon
    = Milton Caniff
    = Chaarles H. Kuhn
    = Shel Dorf
    = Will Eisner
    = Fantagraphics
    = Jack Katz
    = Ed Kane
    = Kitchen Sink Press
    = Craig Leavitt
    = Toni Mendez
    = Marge Devine
    = David Olbrich
    = Peter Poplaski
    = Renegade Press
    = Rico Long
    = Michigan State University
    = San Francisco Academy of Comic Art
    = Stuart Mohr
    = Toutain Editor
    = Terry Waltermire
    = World Color Press
    = Wizard of comics
    = Traded for or Purchased
    = Lyman Young





    APPENDIX 2

    Decimal Descriptions and Publisher Codes Already in Use


    PN6728

    Propoganda, educational and giveaway comic books, published in the United States, by publisher, A-Z, then by title. Educational and propaganda comics are sometimes classified by subject matter elsewhere in the LC schedules. Since the subject matter is always searchable through subject headings, a preference has been formed at MSU for classifying these together in PN6728, because the genre Aeducational and propaganda comics@ is in itself of interest to researchers.

    Publisher cutters in use:

    .C3
    G4
    .K49
    .M18
    .R3
    .U5     		Catechetical Guild
    General Electric
    King Features
    McDonald=s
    Radio Shack
    United States Government



    PN6728.1

    Golden Age comic books, titles beginning between 1930-1949, by publisher, A-Z, then by title

    Publisher cutters in use:

    .A2Ace/A.A. Wynn



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