Rare Book Cataloging

Course Description

This course is intended for working catalogers who are (or will soon be) cataloging books according to Descriptive Cataloging of Rare Materials (RDA Edition) (DCRMR). The course focuses on handpress (pre-1830) books, and course examples and practicum materials are drawn from Rare Book School’s collections, particularly 17th- and 18th-century English-language imprints. 

Topics include:

• application of codes and standards, especially DCRMR
• transcription
• concepts of edition, impression, issue, state
• bibliographical format, collation, and physical description
• genre/form terms, relationship designators, other controlled vocabularies
• item-specific description
• cataloging decisions, policy, and governance in an institutional and national context

This course offers an in-depth exploration of applying DCRMR to catalog hand-press monographs, with some light discussion of applying DCRMR to 19th-century and later books. Although familiarity with one DCRM manual helps with understanding other manuals in the DCRM suite, the course does not address non-monographic formats, such as serials, graphics, maps (cartographic), music, or manuscripts. 

Admission criteria

Applicants need to have working experience in and demonstrate understanding of general cataloging principles and practices, including cataloging according to standards (e.g., AACR2, Original RDA, etc.) and cataloging in a MARC21 environment. 

Applicants do not need prior knowledge of hand-press printing or the history of the book in the European context. 

Applications will be evaluated on:

• relevance of the course to the applicant’s current or immediately forthcoming position and duties, as detailed in the personal statement
• practical experience with AACR2 or RDA records in the MARC format, demonstrated by bibliographic records submitted in the cataloging sample and detailed in the personal statement
• sound knowledge of standard cataloging principles and practices, demonstrated by bibliographic records submitted in the cataloging sample

To apply 

Applicants should submit a personal statement and a cataloging sample. 

In their personal statement, applicants should describe their training in cataloging and their working (non-classroom) experience with standards-based (e.g., AACR, Original RDA, Official RDA, etc.) cataloging. Additionally, they should provide a brief description of the types, languages and date ranges of materials they expect to catalog with DCRMR. The personal statement should be 1-2 pages and submitted as a PDF.

In their cataloging sample, applicants should submit three typical bibliographic records of materials they are currently cataloging (preferably books). The records may be original or copy cataloging; if the latter, please submit before-and-after versions. The records should follow a cataloging standard and be coded thusly. The three bibliographic records should be combined and submitted as a single PDF. 

Format attached filenames following these guidelines:

• personal statement as <LastName>-<FirstInitial>-<course#> (e.g., Lion-R-L30)
• cataloging sample as <LastName>-<FirstInitial>-<course#>-records (e.g., Lion-R-L30-records).

A note on cataloging standards

This course teaches Descriptive Cataloging of Rare Materials (RDA Edition). DCRMR is a freely available, open source cataloging standard published online at https://bsc.rbms.info. It is aligned with Official RDA, but neither access to Official RDA Toolkit nor experience with Official RDA (or the LC-PCC Metadata Guidance Documentation) is required for a successful class experience. 

This course does not assume familiarity with Descriptive Cataloging of Rare Materials (Books), and it covers fundamental principles and practices of rare books cataloging. Therefore, potential applicants who are experienced and comfortable with DCRM(B) cataloging may find aspects of the class redundant or repetitive. 

A note on Rare Book Cataloging (L-30) and Modern Special Collections Cataloging (L-135)

Rare Book Cataloging (L-30) and Modern Special Collections Cataloging (L-150) are complementary courses. 

Both courses are intended for practicing catalogers who are, or soon will be, cataloging special collections materials. Both courses provide instruction in, and hands-on experience with, creating rich descriptions for special collections materials by considering an item’s intellectual and material aspects and then making extensive use of notes fields, applying controlled vocabularies, and integrating bibliographical concepts in the description. 

Potential applicants should take Rare Book Cataloging (L-30) if they are, or will be, cataloging hand-press materials and/or applying Descriptive Cataloging of Rare Materials (RDA Edition) (DCRMR) in their cataloging practice. Note that the class focuses on the application of DCRMR when cataloging hand-press books.

Potential applications should take Modern Special Collections Cataloging (L-150) if they are, or will be, cataloging machine-press and modern monographic materials that would benefit from special collections treatment but do not require the depth called for in DCRMR. The class focuses on the application of RDA with an emphasis on options that allow for the fuller description necessary for the accurate description and discovery of special collections materials.

Students may take both courses, in any order. 

Advance Reading List

Advance Advices

Please read the following and bring a copy with you to class:

• Descriptive Cataloging of Rare Materials (Books). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress Cataloging Distribution Service, 3rd printing with corrections, 2011 (ISBN:970-0-8444-1162-0). DCRM(B) is out of print, and is freely available as a PDF. Note that the front cover is available as a separate PDF file. An electronic copy is also available through Cataloger’s Desktop (subscription service through the Library of Congress). Before coming to class, familiarize yourself with this manual, paying special attention to the preface and introductory sections, area 4, and Appendix G. Make sure you have this title and not Descriptive Cataloging of Rare Books, or the 1st or 2nd printings of DCRM(B). Please be sure to bring either a print or electronic version of DCRM(B) to class.
  
  Special note: Although Descriptive Cataloging of Rare Books (RDA Edition), or DCRMR, has been released as a minimum viable product, in this instructor’s opinion it is not quite ready for use; for the time being, this course will continue to use DCRM(B) as the standard with reference to differences coming down the pike.
  
• Belanger, Terry. “Descriptive Bibliography.” In Book Collecting: A Modern Guide, edited by Jean Peters, 97–115. New York & London: R.R. Bowker, 1977. Note: Students admitted to this course will receive further instructions for accessing this reading.
  
  Please also bring with you to class:
• Wifi-enabled laptop or tablet
  • RBS will provide information on accessing UVA’s wifi network
  • Most cataloging in class and during after-hours sessions will be performed in a shared Google drive
  • Past students have reported more satisfaction with laptops over tablets because of larger screens
• Downloads and credentials for other subscription resources you like to use, such as:
  • ClassWeb
  • RDA toolkit
  • Connexion

Read Before Coming to Class

• Gaskell, Philip. A New Introduction to Bibliography. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1972, revised 1974, &c. 1995 paperback version currently in print (Winchester: St Paul’s Bibliographies & New Castle, DE: Oak Knoll Books). Familiarize yourself with the scope and contents of Gaskell before coming to class, read pages 313–320 (“Identification”), pages 328–335 (“Formula”), and as much else as you have time for. It will not be necessary to bring to class.
• Werner, Sarah. Studying Early Printed Books, 1450-1800: A Practical Guide. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Blackwell, 2019, parts 1–3. It will not be necessary to bring to class.
  
  The following posts from the Folger blog The Collation relating to cataloging are informative, in bite-size pieces:
• Cataloging at the Folger: a primer
• Physical description in book cataloging
• Deciphering signature marks
• Signature statements in book cataloging
• Uncut, unopened, untrimmed, uh-oh
• Decoding library catalog citations
• V, u/v and library transcription rules
• Untangling Lady Day dating and the Julian calendar
• A briefing on brevigraphs, those strange shapes in early printed texts
• Time writing
• Woodcut, engraving, or what?

Watch Before Coming to Class

General

• The Art of Making a Book (hand press): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T17aCX2iBBY
• Making books (1947) (machine press): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBztGX-2i1M
• The Anatomy of a Book: Format in the Hand-Press Period: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Efxddk09p0g&. Don’t worry if this seems difficult or overwhelming—we will have plenty of time to explore and practice recognizing format in class.
• The Making of a Renaissance Book (optional): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHprwjOJIn8

Papermaking

• Chancery Papermaking: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-PmfdV_cZU
• Papermaking by Hand at Hayley Mill, England in 1976: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs3PfwOItt
• Handmade papermaking and handcasting type: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MTb7Nt9jNY

Hand Printing and Printmaking

• Het drukproces in Museum Plantin-Moretus. A series of ten unnarrated videos put out by the Musea Stad Antwerpen. Watch in this order:

1. Cutting the punch: https://youtu.be/ACShxt0n8uI?list=PL1DD2DC2ECAE66A19
2. Creating the matrix: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACShxt0n8uI&list=PL1DD2DC2ECAE66A19&index=3
3. Casting type: https://youtu.be/q981Whe3xF4?list=PL1DD2DC2ECAE66A19
4. Setting type: https://youtu.be/EWp_Rxaaq4M?list=PL1DD2DC2ECAE66A19
5. Tying up the galley: https://youtu.be/F7JYaeTYyfM?list=PL1DD2DC2ECAE66A19
6. Imposing: https://youtu.be/yfRr01NvDZY?list=PL1DD2DC2ECAE66A19
7. Letterpress printing: https://youtu.be/IO6l74AWJSs?list=PL1DD2DC2ECAE66A19
8. Engraving: https://youtu.be/JooTfqw3UIY?list=PL1DD2DC2ECAE66A19
9. Etching: https://youtu.be/KYvLBBC4I-U?list=PL1DD2DC2ECAE66A19
10. Rolling press printing: https://youtu.be/ebNfdjDkEnE?list=PL1DD2DC2ECAE66A19
11. Woodcut Printing:. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgCYovlFRNY

Binding

• Bookbinding 101. https://www.youtube.com/user/BookbindersChronicle/videos. A series of nine videos on hand bookbinding. Watch the videos in reverse order as they appear on the page, starting with “Sewing with cloth tapes.”

Warm-Up Exercises

Students will be given two warm-up cataloging exercises to be completed prior to the start of class—so you’ll be ready to hit the ground running!

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Course History