BCC2002/SDC/4
Descriptive Cataloging Subcommittee
2002 Annual Report
Members: Nancy Lorimer
(Chair), Joe Bartl (LC Representative), Dennis Davies-Wilson, Kathryn Glennan, Michi Hoban, David J. Hoek, Joan McGorman,
Lee Richardson, J. Bradford Young
As MLA representative, Nancy Lorimer attended meetings of the Committee
on Cataloging: Description and Access at the ALA conferences in New Orleans (Jan. 2002) & Atlanta (June 2002). At the
New Orleans meetings, various options for Area 3 and 5 in Chapter 9 (Electronic resources) of AACR were discussed. Of
particular interest to music librarians was the discussion on whether to make conventional terminology the norm rather than
an option in Chapter 9, and whether to introduce blended content/carrier descriptors (e.g. 1 score on CD-ROM) in Area 5 for
direct and maybe indirect electronic resources. One CC:DA member suggested that such directions belonged in the content
chapters. The JSC representative requested straw polls regarding this question from other constituencies, including MLA.
A proposal to make the rule of 3 optional was tabled, since JSC, after seeing that this required some major modifications
to Chapter 21, decided that the entire chapter should be completely revised. The Atlanta meetings featured presentations
on the Functional Requirements of the Bibliographic Record (FRBR). Among other discussions, most of which were
continuations of topics from the Midwinter meeting, it was noted that the Canadian Committee on Cataloging (CCC) would
present rule change proposals for Chapters 6 (Sound Recordings) and 7 (Videorecordings & Films) to introduce conventional
terminology. CC:DA rotated-off two members, Brad Eden and Susan Hayes, and brought in two members well-known to the MLA
community, Matthew Wise and Jay Weitz. Reports on the two meetings are available on the BCC web page. Complete meeting
minutes are available on the CC:DA web page.
At its open meeting in Las Vegas, held jointly with MARC Formats, the
Subcommittee discussed the problem of conventional terminology and the possibility that changes would have to be made to
Chapter 6 to accommodate it. We also discussed the issue of content/carrier descriptors for electronic resources and, if
adopted, whether they should be in the content chapters rather than in Chapter 9. A straw poll was taken on the question;
the unanimous preference was for putting the material in the content chapters.
The Subcommittee has been very busy this summer. CCC presented its
proposals to make conventional terminology the norm in Chapters 6 and 7, relegating the SMD to being an option. The
Subcommittee sent a response in which we objected strenuously to the proposal and offered a counterproposal. This
counterproposal has since been turned into a formal proposal and can be seen on the SDC web page. After reading and
discussing our response and counterproposal, CC:DA voted against the CCC proposal, citing our objections and stating their
wish to consider our alternate proposal. We are now waiting for news from the JSC September meeting on the reaction of
other JSC members to our response. The response and proposal are, or will soon be, available of SDC web page.
The Austin open meeting, held in conjunction with another BCC
subcommittee, will likely feature the continuing saga of conventional terminology and the adaptation of Chapters 5 and 6 to
include music and sound recordings available through direct or remote electronic access.
Submitted by Nancy Lorimer
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Last updated November 12, 2002