Abstract:
Comics cataloging can be complicated. Libraries serve both community constituencies (public) and highly selective constituencies (school or special libraries) using various discovery platforms. These differing audiences and library systems, as well as differing levels of library staff training and resources, can lead to variations in cataloging levels for comics, in both depth and breadth of metadata recorded. The multiplicity of uses for comics collections across institutions and consortia—pleasure reading, research, curricular support, etc.—also influences cataloging decisions. The following guide
attempts to distill comic book cataloging best practices from several representative institutions, acknowledging commonalities and requirements while honoring the colorful MARC record palette customizable to a specific readership and support technology.
Description:
The recommendations contained in this document apply to descriptive and subject/access point cataloging of comic books, manga, graphic novels, and webcomics. They will assist library staff in effectively and consistently cataloging sequential art; sections contain background information about various MARC fields, with recommendations, and examples from actual comics cataloging. There are also several appendices with added information. These best practices generally conform to PCC guidelines with small deviations. For those who wish to follow PCC more strictly, this guide should be used in conjunction with other cataloging guidance such as the BIBCO Standard Record (BSR) and CONSER Standard Record (CSR) documentation; see also Appendix E for PCC cataloging necessities.
This document does not contain guidance on comics classification. Given the wide variance of classifications systems used by libraries (Library of Congress, Dewey Decimal, home-grown, hybrid, etc.), and the hyper-local focus of cuttering, classification is considered too variable and individualized a practice to be a candidate for prescriptive guidance and standardization. A separate, future document from the GNCRT Metadata and Cataloging Committee will hopefully consider the universe of classification options and provide suggestions.
