Except as noted in LCRI 25.9 and LCRI 25.10, assign a collective uniform title to an item at the first instance of appropriateness, e.g., do not defer the adding of a collective uniform title until the file under the heading is voluminous.

Extend the use of collective uniform titles to collections entered under a corporate name whenever the particular circumstances warrant it (e.g., collections of official communications by a head of state, collections of encyclicals). Note that the application of 25.8-25.11 is not restricted to collections for which a single person or a single corporate body is responsible.

In any case of a collection covered by 25.8-25.11 containing three or more works, generally, do not make analytical added entries for any of the works in the collection. This applies both to collections with a uniform title and those without. (For the exception for music sound recordings, see LCRI 25.34B-25.34C.)

Under any of the collective uniform titles ("Short stories," "Laws, etc.") other than "Works" or "Selections" (see LCRI 25.8-25.9) a difference in titles proper would separate originals from translations and likewise would separate unrevised editions as well as the various publications of a single edition. Such collective uniform titles are also not adequate for the proper identification of a work being used in a secondary entry. Because of these inadequacies, apply collective uniform titles with the principle found in 25.5B always in mind. The "appropriate designation to distinguish" between one work and another (or to being them together) will usually be the title proper of each work. Note, however, that the designation should be tailored to fit each case, so that there are possibilities other than the title proper (editor, translator, publisher, compiler, etc.) and that the title proper, if used, may be shortened. Do whatever makes the most sense in the particular case.

Example

Apply this technique of qualifications only retrospectively, i.e., after the need to being together differently titled items becomes an actuality or to refer to a particular work in a secondary entry when this work is not the only one bearing the same collective uniform title in the catalog. Then, it will be necessary to revise the earlier entry or entries.

See also:

25.8. Complete Works