The Project Gutenberg eBook of Rules for a Dictionary Catalogue, by Charles A. (Charles Ammi) Cutter

C. REFERENCES.

60. Make references

(§ 3.) From joint authors (after the first) to the first.

(§ 5.) From the præses to the respondent or defendant of a thesis, or vice versâ.

(§ 6.) From pseudonyms, initials, and part of names.

(§§ 7, 8.) From important illustrators when not important enough for an entry.

(§ 12.) From commentators who are not entitled to an entry, if the commentary preponderates or for any reason is likely to be looked for under the commentator’s name. Where the line of omission shall be drawn depends on the fullness of the catalogue.

(§§ 13–16.) From the authors of continuations, indexes, and of introductions of some length, also in some cases, of epitomes, revisions, and excerpts.

(§ 18.) From the names of reporters, translators, and editors of anonymous works and of works not anonymous which are commonly known by the name of their editors or translators.

Ex. Some translations from the German by Mrs. Wister are wrongly lettered as if she were the author, and are therefore asked for by her name.

(§ 19 a.) From the foreign form of names of sovereigns, whenever they are likely to be looked for under that form.

(§ 19 b, c.) From the family name of persons canonized, and of friars who drop the family name on entering their order.

(§ 19 e.) From such parts of Oriental names as require it.

(§ 20.) From the names of English sees and deaneries. {36}

(§ 20 c.) From the maiden names or unused married names of wives to the one used in the catalogue, provided they have written under the earlier names or for any other reason are likely to be looked for under them.

(§ 21.) From the family names of British noblemen to the titles, or vice versâ, if the entry is made under the family name.

From the family names of foreign noblemen, when they are known by them wholly or in part.

From any other title by which a man may be better known than by his real name.

As, “Claimant, The.” The Diary of the Shah of Persia, catalogued under Nassr-ad-Din, requires a reference from Shah.

(§ 22.) From the earlier forms of names that are changed.

(§ 23.) From the part of compound names which is not used for entry to the part which is, whenever it seems necessary.

(§ 24.) From the prefixes of foreign names when they have been commonly used in combination with the last part.

Ex. From Vandyck to Dyck, A. van, from Degerando to Gerando, and De Candolle to Candolle.

(§ 25.) From the alternative part of Latin names.

(§§ 27–38.) From all forms of a name varying either by spelling, translation, or transliteration that do not come into immediate juxtaposition with the one chosen.

This should be done whether the rejected form occurs in the title of a book in the library or not. The object of a reference is to enable the reader to find the works of an author, not merely a particular book, and the reader may have seen the author referred to under the rejected form whether the library has a book with that form or not.

(§§ 40, 44, 48.) From the authors of official writings (with discretion).

(§ 49.) From nations taking part in a congress to the place of meeting.

(§ 52.) From the places where conventions are held to the names of the bodies holding them.

(§ 53.) From the name of an ecclesiastical body to the headings under which the councils of the body are entered.

(§ 56.) A list of references is given in the note.

(§ 57.) From part of the author’s name appearing on the title-page to the whole name if discovered.

From the last initial given on a title-page to the one chosen for the entry.

(§ 58.) From a pseudonym to the real name when discovered.

From some phraseological pseudonyms, especially if brief.

Ex. From Lawyer, when an anonymous work is said to be “by a lawyer.” For Full only.

From editors and translators.

If it is thought worth while to give a complete view of the literary and artistic activity of every author so far as it is represented in the library, of course references from editors, translators, illustrators, cartographers, engravers, etc., must be made. But this completeness is not usually sought even in large libraries. Such references {37} are also undeniably a help in finding books. But they increase the bulk and the cost of a catalogue so much and are comparatively of so little use that ordinary libraries must content themselves with a selection, though the best-made selection is certain to occasion complaints that the really useful ones have been omitted and the least important made. The chief classes of necessary references of this sort are—

(1.) From the editors of periodicals to the title-entry, when the periodical is commonly called by the editor’s name, as Poggendorff’s Annalen, Silliman’s Journal.
(2.) From the names of editors and translators which are habitually mentioned in connection with a work, so that it is as likely to be looked for under the editor’s name as under the author’s name. When the form is a combination of author’s and editor’s name, as Heyne’s Virgil, Leverett’s Cicero, the reference, though convenient, is certainly not necessary, inasmuch as a person of ordinary intelligence could hardly fail, not finding what he wanted under one name, to try the other.
(3.) From the names of those who have made poetical versions, on the ground that their work is something more than mere translation.
(4.) From the translators of anonymous works, because the title of the original will generally be unknown to the searcher. This is less necessary for famous works; thus J. Scott’s version of the Arabian Nights would probably be looked for under Arabian nights rather than under Scott; but it makes assurance doubly sure.
(5.) From the names of translators, editors, etc., of Oriental works, because Occidental readers are much more likely to remember these names than those of the authors.

It may be thought that an excessive number of references is recommended, but it is plain that wherever there can be a reasonable doubt among cataloguers under what head a book ought to be entered, it should have at least a reference under each head. The object of an author-catalogue is to enable one to find the book; if that object is not attained the book might as well not be catalogued at all.

61. Make explanatory notes under such words as Congress, Parliament, Academies, Societies, and others in regard to whose entry there is a diverse usage, stating what is the rule of the catalogue.