A Classification and Subject Index for Cataloguing and Arranging the Books and Pamphlets of a Library · Chapter 3Explanations
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The titles of the subject catalogue are exact transcriptions of the title page, neither amended, translated, or in any way altered, except that mottoes, titles of authors, repetitions, or matter of any kind not essential to a clear titular description, are omitted. Omissions of mottoes are indicated by three stars (* * *); of other matter by three dots (...). The phraseology, spelling, and punctuation of the title are exactly copied; but capitals are given only to proper names and adjectives, and initial words of sentences. Any additions needed to make the title clear are supplied and enclosed by brackets.
After the titles, are given in order: the place of publication; the year; the year of copyright, if different, in brackets; the edition; the number of volumes, or of pages if in only one volume; the illustrations, maps, plates, or portraits; and the size nearest in the arbitrary scale, regardless of the fold of the sheet. This scale gives the heights in decimeters. Square and oblong books have the size prefixed by sq. or ob. Books 1 decimeter high are called 32°; 1.5 deci., 16°; 2 deci., 12°; 2.5 deci., 8°; 3 deci., 4°; and all others are marked simply by the nearest height, i.e. a book marked 4 is between 3.5 and 4.5 decimeters high. In books having more than one pagination the number of pages is indicated by giving the last number of each pagination connected by a +; an added + indicates additional matter unpaged.
These imprint entries give the facts regardless of the title page, and are left blank only when they can be ascertained neither from the book itself or other sources.
The contents of volumes are given when on title pages, or when necessary to properly identify the volume, but no analysis is attempted. Necessary notes are given at the bottom of the subject card after the imprint entries.
Duplicates are simply marked copy 2, copy 3, etc., and bear the same class and book number, but editions of the same book distinct in character are catalogued separately.
In all the catalogues, books are entered under the surnames of authors when known; under the initials of author's names, when these only appear, the last initial being put first; under the pseudonyms of the writers, when the real names are not ascertained; under the names of editors of collections; under the names of countries, cities, societies, or other bodies which are responsible for their publication; under the first word not an article of the titles of periodicals and of anonymous books the names of whose authors are not ascertained. Commentaries with the text, and translations are entered under the heading of the original work, but commentaries without the text are entered under the name of the commentator. The Bible or any part of it in any language is entered under the word Bible. Books having more than one author are entered under the first named on the title.
In the headings of titles, the names of authors are given in their vernacular form. In English and French surnames beginning with a prefix (except the French de and d') the name is recorded under the prefix. In other languages and in French names beginning with de and d', the name is recorded under the word following the prefix. Compound surnames are entered under the first part of the name. Noblemen and ecclesiastical dignitaries are entered under their family names, but sovereigns, princes, oriental writers, friars, persons canonized, and all other persons known only by their first name, are entered under this first name.
The catalogue is not a biographical dictionary, so only gives the names of authors with sufficient fullness to distinguish them from each other in practical use.
Names in full face type are the ruling headings under which the books are entered in the various catalogues. Entries not beginning with this type are in addition to the first or main entry, and are made under the names of translators, editors, commentators, continuators, etc., as participators in the authorship; also in the case of books having more than one author, or having both generic and specific titles, or published by societies or other bodies, and having also the name of the individual author. These additional entries are made in order to carry out the plan of the Authors' Catalogue, which aims to give under each author's name all his works which the library contains.
The works of an author known by more than one name are given all together, under the form of name chosen. Any other name or title by which he may be known, if it differs in the first three letters, is entered in its alphabetical place, followed by the word see and the name under which the books are entered. Such cross references have no titles given under them, but are simply guides to the name chosen.
A single dash indicates the omission of the preceding heading; a subsequent dash indicates the omission of a subordinate heading or of a title. A dash connecting numbers signifies to and including; following a number it signifies continuation. A ? following a word or entry signifies probably. Brackets enclose words added to titles or changed in form.
The German diphthongs ä, ö, ü are written, ae, oe, ue.
Dates are all given in years of the common calendar, and Arabic numerals are uniformly used for all numbers.