Cataloging Unpublished Nonprint Materials:

Additional rules relating to the cataloging of unpublished materials were added to Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, 2nd edition, 1988 Revision (AACR2R) in response to requests from catalogers for more detailed guidance in this area. Verna Urbanski and her associates have provided further help by culling AACR2R for rules that pertain to the cataloging of unpublished nonprint materials and collating them in this work. The authors state that "this manual is not intended for material entering an archival or special collection" (p. v).

They have enhanced the bare rules by adding a clearly written and informative "discussion" to each rule selected for inclusion. Library of Congress Rule Interpretations are noted if pertinent, and the part of the catalog record under discussion is exemplified in most instances.

Between five and nine full catalog records are found at the end of each chapter, except "General Provisions". There are examples of unpublished reel-to-reel sound tapes, sound cassettes, videocassettes, film reels, photographs, art originals, transparencies, slides, computer disks, remote access computer files, dioramas, realia, games, and kits.

The introduction includes "Things To Think About" where seven important questions are posed and discussed to help catalogers make decisions about what items should undergo the expense of cataloging, a topic frequently neglected in cataloging manuals.

This excellent work, highly recommended for purchase, concludes with a four-page bibliography and an index.

Now for the quibbles, albeit very small ones because I know how easily mistakes can be overlooked. The proofreading could be improved. For instance, page 30 has both "video tape" and "videotape"; in the first example on page 42 "module" should be capitalized; in the example on page 51 there is a period after "arts". However, what bothered me the most is the lack of uniformity in the indentions in the full records. It has been my experience that students and unsophisticated catalogers are puzzled by unexplained variations in practice. If the variations are intentional, this fact should be stated.

Published in 1992 by: Soldier Creek Press, P.O. Box 734, 642 S. Hunt St., Lake Crystal, Minn. 56055-0734. ISBN 0-936996-61-7. (144 p.) $22.50

Reviewed by:
Jean Weihs
Principal Consultant
Technical Services Group