85. Make a first-word reference to the author for other works which are likely to be inquired for under the first word of the title, whether because the author-entry of the work is not obvious from the title, [33] because the title does not indicate the subject, [34] or because it is of a striking form, [35] or because the book is commonly known by its title, [36] or for any other good reason.
[33] Codex Sinaiticus; ed. Tischendorf (entered under Bible).
[34] Cuppé’s “Heaven open to all men” needs a title-reference, because for its subject it would be put under Universal salvation or Future punishment, Duration of. Hutton’s “Plays and players” is merely an account of the New York stage. Keary’s “Nations around” does not suggest any subject at all.
[35] Border and bastille.
[36] Divina commedia.
In a majority of cases, when a subject-word entry is made, no first-word reference is needed; but, if the title is striking, there should be a first-word reference, or a reference from that part of the title which is striking. Title-references should not generally be made from certain common titles, as “Sermons on various subjects,” “Essays, historical and literary,” and should be made from less common collective words, as “Century of painters,” “Century of praise,” etc. References should be liberally made to the works of such authors as Brown, Jones, Schmidt, Smith, Wilson; if one has forgotten the Christian name, it is a work of too much time to find the book under the author, and one looks at once for a subject- or a title-entry or reference. And a reference will facilitate the finding of many collections entered properly under the editor; for it is easy to forget an editor’s name, and often difficult to determine the subject-entry of a collection.
To sum up, then, make a title-reference when the author’s name is common, the title memorable, or the subject obscure.
86. Make a catch-word reference or references—
a. For all anonymous works which admit of it, if their subject does not appear distinctly from the title. To be made to the author if known, otherwise to the first word.
Ex. Scarlet gowns, True and exact account of the. See True. Here Cardinals is the subject, but the word does not occur in the title; True is the first word and is therefore taken for the heading; but Scarlet gowns is a phrase very likely to remain {44} in the memory of anyone who had seen the title, and therefore the reference is made. Books published under a comparatively unknown pseudonym should have either a first-word or a catch-word reference, unless their subject-entry can be easily inferred from the title.