Matter That Cannot Be Reproduced by the Facilities Available (1.0E. Language and script of the description )
The rule, in effect, requires as much fidelity to the source as the capacity for printing, typewriting, database-inputting, etc., within the cataloging agency will allow. It recommends a "cataloguer’s description in square brackets" for any "matter that cannot be reproduced by the facilities available." Generally, this is a practicable solution, but there are special instances in which doing other than describing the matter is appropriate. The main purposes of these instructions are to categorize all the methods to be employed, including a "cataloguer’s description," and to give specific directions for each in terms of the particular character set phenomenon encountered.
In the context of machine-readable catalog records not that as used in 1.0E and in the preceding paragraph, "facilities available" means the totality of characters that can be represented in machine-readable form and displayed/printed (known as the "MARC character set"; referred to hereafter as the "character set"). Conventions appropriate to particular character set situations have been developed as follows:
Special Marks of Contraction
(e.g., older printed Latin)
Special Letters, Diacritical Marks and, Punctuation Marks
Apply the appropriate conventions described in the sections above. As judged appropriate, use notes to explain and added entries to provide additional access. In the special provisions above, notes are suggested as possible models for form, not to require the use of the note.
See also:
1.0E. Language and script of the description
