CC:DA/Weitz/2002/1 4JSC/CCC/6: MLA Comments

Abstract

Addressed to Miriam Palm, Chair, ALA/ALCTS Media Resources Committee. Summary: The Music Library Association's Bibliographic Control Committee (BCC) has been discussing the corresponding Canadian proposal for AACR2 6.5B1. The strong consensus there is that, at least for sound recordings, this is a bad idea that sacrifices the clarity and control of the current rule with inadequate justification. Members object to the loss of standardization and consistency within shared catalogs, especially considering that there is little perceived support for "conventional terminology" in the music community. The proposal itself does not address the impact of the change of X.5B1 on the remaining rules within X.5. Weitz's preference is to leave both 6.5B1 and 7.5B1 as they stand, but he can live with the BCC compromise (although he'd rather have the current SMDs as the rule, with the SMD and qualifier as the option).