Part IV — Discs
The Cataloging of Audio-Visual Materials by Arnold D. Ehlert
T h e term ‘disc’ covers music and vocal recordings. There are now also combinations of disc with film strip and disc with book. The problem in the latter two instances is to determine whether the combination is to be cataloged with discs or with the other medium, or whether they should be split. Some of the filmstrip-record combinations, now called sound filmstrips, are put out in a box which can be used for filing. Some of the so-called talking books for children are sold with a slot in the book cover for the record. In either case, size and condi tion permitting, they should probably be left together. For cataloging purposes, however, one medium must be chosen as the prior one. The Joint Committee on Music Cataloging of the Amer ican Library Association has published a manual entitled Code for Cataloging Music and Pkonorecords (Chicago, 1958) which is the basic guide. The Library of Congress has issued another manual that is essential to the hand ling of subject headings for music cataloging. The ques tion is how far to go in making cards for records. The criterion is, of course, usefulness. Some music will be on records, other in score form. Like other forms of audio-visual materials, many discs will be cataloged under title rather than author or com poser. If there is an author or composer that is significant, the name can be used. Often there are several titles on one record; this is especially true of some of the LPs. Albums often carry a title by which they are better The call number indicates the form, that it is a disc, and that it is a ten-inch record and bears the serial number 33. It is easier to file records in order of accession within each size. The form is enclosed in parentheses after the title. There are two sides, and the speed is 78 rpm. Two notes appear on the card, one indicating the reverse side, which in this case contains only one title, and the per former. These latter two items get more complicated when each side has half a dozen titles, each with a dif ferent performer. If the collection grows to any size it is well to indicate the various contents by means of a contents note, listing the titles as they appear on the record together with composer and performer for each, if different and if desired. Some of these sets of cards can get quite compli cated, especially in the case of musical selections of variety where one wants to pick up the different forms of music and possibly the instruments involved in case of solo work. In the case of musical classics the Library of Congress uses what is called a conventional title to insure that 28 known than for the pieces included. A simple entry can look like this: Disc Brighten the comer where you 10 are (Phonodisc) Victor 17763. 33 2 s., 10 in., 78 rpm. Side 2: I walk with the King. Homer Rodeheaver.
regardless of how a piece is published it will always be called by the same name. The album or record title is
Dr. Ehlert auditions favorite seasonal album also used in this case, the conventional title appearing as a separate entry above it. An example is: Disc Bach, Johann Sebastian 12 [Jesu meine Freude. English] 74 Motet no. 3: Jesus, Dearest Master. RCA Victor LM 9025. Here one gets into advanced cataloging and it is better not to get involved with this for small libraries. It is essential to have the Library of Congress catalog volumes covering music entries to do good work with the classics. Groves’ Encyclopedia of Music and Musicians is necessary also for identifying some of the numbered works. A simple way to handle the disc and filmstrip combina tion is as follows: FiSt The Shepherd’s gift (Filmstrip) E-26 Most librarians would be happy to help non-profes sionals in getting started with disc cataloging provided they have had any experience themselves. Many public libraries are now circulating records and are cataloging fully. At the BIOLA Library we do catalog rather fully to take full advantage of the collection. THE KING'S BUSINESS Alexark & Norsim, 1953. 37 fr., col, with disc: Is., 10 in., 331/3 rpm., 14 min.
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