There may likely be other questions to be included; some of the above questions may be made more detailed or given a different formulation or bearing. I believe that an inquiry of this kind, if carried out as it should be done, would do much to show us where changes in our methods might be introduced, to the increased efficiency of the cataloging force and to the benefit of its members.
The ensuing discussion, participated in by C. B. Roden, W. S. Merrill, C. W. Andrews and others resulted in the adoption, on motion of Mr. Roden, of the following resolution:
RESOLVED, that the executive board be asked to appoint a committee to investigate the cost and methods of cataloging in accordance with the suggestions in Mr. Josephson's paper.
A report on uniformity in cataloging rules, made by Miss Helen Turvill, instructor in cataloging in the Wisconsin library school, as chairman of a committee appointed at the January, 1912, meeting of the library schools instructors, was presented by Miss Mary E. Hazeltine.
In connection with this report, Miss Hazeltine submitted for inspection a double file of printed rules on cards embodying the present usage of the Wisconsin library school, which it was hoped might serve as a basis for the further work of the committee. One file was arranged numerically as given to the students for class work; the other, alphabetically under topical guides, as the students would have them filed with illustrative sample cards, at the end of the course.[7]
[7] These card rules may be obtained of the Democrat Printing Company, Madison, Wis., $2.50 per set.
The report itself, which was merely one of progress, to be completed at the midwinter meeting, was accompanied by a request for discussion at Ottawa and a list of points on which an expression of the preference of librarians was desired.
- Points for Discussion
- Call number—Position.
- Heading—Second line indention.
- Date.
- Figures—When to be written out.
- Edition—Spacing.
- Omissions to be indicated.
- Supplied information to be bracketed?
- Collation
- To include paging?
- Author abbreviation—
- Women's names.
- Title card.
- Imprint?
- Initial article in curves.
- Author's name.
- Spacing after initials.
- Spacing between name and titles.
- Added entry cards.
- Form of date.
- Contents.
- Form.
- Punctuation.
- Cross reference.
- Form.
- Joint author.
- Analytic.
- Form.
- Position of paging.
- Added edition.
Miss Gooch and Miss Van Valkenburgh, members of the committee, spoke in explanation of its purpose and scope.
Mr. Merrill said that as editor of the A. L. A. periodical cards he was glad to learn that a committee was working to secure greater uniformity in catalog entries.