Cataloger's
Reference Shelf
Library of Congress Rule Interpretations
Cataloger's
Reference Shelf
Library of Congress Rule Interpretations
26.2. (References) Names of Persons
Preliminary Note:
These guidelines are applicable primarily when establishing headings initially.
Recording Variant Forms of Name:
Record all forms of name found on the chief source of the work being cataloged (including CIP title pages). For forms of name that are not on the chief source but that are found in the normal course of examining the work, be selective: record only those forms that are judged to add important information identifying the author (most commonly, a fuller form of name) or to justify tracing a needed reference. In particular, do not record a form that consists of a surname alone when that form is a variant. References are traced only from recorded forms. See the guidelines below when deciding which recorded forms require references.
Referring from Variant Forms:
1. Normally, do not trace a reference from the old catalog heading. However, if judged useful by the cataloger or for specified projects, a linking reference may be made. If the form of the resulting reference (i.e., the way it is structured, not its degree of fullness) is not in accord with current policy, code it "do not make" and trace another reference constructed according to current policy.
2. Trace a reference from each variant that affects the primary elements of the name. For the normal, inverted heading this means variations in all elements to the left of the comma and in the first element to the right of the comma. Do not trace a reference that would normalize to the same form as the heading on the same record or to the same form as the heading on another record.
3. Refer from other variants (i.e., those that do not affect the primary entry elements) when it is judged the access to the catalog would be improved, e.g., when the heading is a common-sounding name.
4. Make one reference from each possible entry element of the name chosen as the heading, including each separate particle or prefix by excluding connectives such as "y" and "und." (In this connection, ignore the "Bure" example in AACR2 rule 26.2A3; this is based on actual usage, not an arbitrary permutation of the heading.)
5. Generally, make only one reference from each variant, normally constructing it in the form in which it would be constructed if chosen as the heading (cf. specific instructions in LCRI 26.1). In addition, if applicable, make one reference under each surname element, other than particles and prefixes, not already referred from. Normally, do not otherwise make references that are "variants of the variant."
6. In constructing references, prefer forms corresponding to usage over forms corresponding to qualifiers (cf. the last example below).
Follow these principles when creating new headings, and follow them, also, as closely as possible when evaluating references on existing authority records and when creating automated authority records for headings found in the machine files (or in the manual catalog, if this has been consulted). For already evaluated reference structures, generally, allow the references to stand that are not provided for in these instructions.
Special Considerations:
1. When in romance language names a surname is abbreviated to a single letter, do not refer from it.
2. If the form being referred from is purely initials and the full form is a normal forename-surname one, make one reference from the initials in direct order and make one, also, from the initial that represents the entry element in the heading.
3. When an Aramaic surname begins with "Bar," an Arabic surname begins with "Abd" or "Ibn," or a Hebrew surname begins with "Ben" or "Bat," do not make a reference from the surname element that follows.
See also: