OBJECTS. [4]
- 1. To enable a person to find a book of which either
- (A) the author,
- (B) the title, or
- (C) the subject is known.
- 2. To show what the library has
- (D) by a given author
- (E) on a given subject
- (F) in a given kind of literature.
- 3. To assist in the choice of a book
- (G) as to its edition (bibliographically).
- (H) as to its character (literary or topical).
MEANS.
- 1. Author-entry with the necessary references (for A and D).
- 2. Title-entry or title-reference (for B).
- 3. Subject-entry, cross-references, and classed subject-table (for C and E).
- 4. Form-entry [5] (for F).
- 5. Giving edition and imprint, with notes when necessary (for G).
- 6. Notes (for H).
[4] Note to second edition. This statement of Objects and Means has been criticized; but as it has also been frequently quoted, usually without change or credit, in the prefaces of catalogues and elsewhere, I suppose it has on the whole been approved.
[5] Here the whole is designated by its most important member. The full name would be form-and-language entry. Kind-entry would not suggest the right idea.
REASONS FOR CHOICE
among the several possible methods of attaining the OBJECTS.
Other things being equal, choose that entry
- (1) That will probably be first looked under by the class of people who use the library;
- (2) That is consistent with other entries, so that one principle can cover all;
- (3) That will mass entries least in places where it is difficult to so arrange them that they can be readily found, as under names of nations and cities.