DCRB 1A2. Sources of information.

Take information recorded in this area from the title page. Enclose information recorded from any other source in square brackets, and indicate its source in a note. For special provisions relating to single-sheet publications, see 1F.

Record the data in the prescribed order, subject to the limitations stated in these rules. Generally do not use the mark of omission to indicate transposition.

Omit, without using the mark of omission, information found on the title page that constitutes neither title information nor a statement of responsibility. Such information may include pious invocations, devices, announcements, epigrams, dedications, mottoes, statements of patronage, prices, etc. (cf. 0E). Use the note area to record or describe this kind of information if it is considered important. If such information is an inseparable part (see 1B1) of one of the elements of the title and statement of responsibility area, however, transcribe it as such. If such information constitutes the only title-like information present in the source, it may be used as a supplied title according to the provisions of 1B5.

When the volume is part of a multivolume monograph, and the title page gives a statement of the volume or part number within the larger work, omit this statement without using the mark of omission, unless it is an inseparable part (cf. 1B1, 1B4) of the information being transcribed. Do transcribe statements such as "in two volumes," however (cf. 1D3).

AACR2 1.1A2. Sources of information

Take information recorded in this area from the chief source of information for the material to which the item being described belongs. Enclose information supplied from any other source in square brackets.

Give the elements of data in the order of the sequence of the following rules, even if this means transposing data. Transcribe the data as found, however, if case endings are affected, if the grammatical construction of the data would be disturbed, or if one element is inseparably linked to another.

AACR2 2.14C.

Omit mottoes, quotations, dedications, statements, etc., appearing on the title page that are separate from the title proper.

Comparison:

DCRB paragraph 1. DCRB substitutes "title page" for AACR2 "chief source of information for the material to which the item being described belongs". DCRB adds a requirement that the source of bracketed information be given in a note, and gives a reference to treatment of single-sheet publications.

DCRB paragraph 2. DCRB: "Record the data in the prescribed order, subject to the limitations stated in these rules. Generally do not use the mark of omission to indicate transposition."

AACR2: "Give the elements of data in the order of the sequence of the following rules, even if this means transposing data. Transcribe the data as found, however, if case endings are affected, if the grammatical construction of the data would be disturbed, or if one element is inseparably linked to another."

DCRB paragraph 3-4. DCRB adds paragraphs about treatment of omissions and statements of voluming not in AACR2 1.1A2. This corresponds roughly to AACR2 2.14C, but in expanded form.

Comment:

Paragraph 1. DCRB made the substitution because only books were contemplated in these rules, and so it made sense at the time. The AACR2 language would probably be more appropriate for DCRM. The requirement that the source of bracketed information be noted makes sense from a rare description perspective. The reference to single-sheet publications may not be needed if the AACR2 "chief source of information" language is restored (why should there be a reference only to single sheet publications, when there will be several other formats as well? Perhaps this should either be omitted or expanded to refer to all the formats.)

Paragraph 2. DCRB language reflects (though is not identical with) the wording of the original AACR2. DCRB says to give data in "the prescribed order", the old AACR2 language; current AACR2 says to give data in the order of the rules. Both have the same result, but current AACR2’s language seems clearer (what is "the prescribed order"?). AACR2’s addition of keeping elements in the same order they are found without transposition if case order, grammar, etc. would be disrupted by transposition makes sense and is in fact the result produced by DCRB also.

Paragraph 3-4. This language greatly expands AACR2. This seems appropriate, however, for rare cataloging, since rare catalogers are much more likely to encounter the items listed in paragraph 3 than others and need explicit instructions. Instructions are also necessary for how to deal with voluming, though the results under DCRB and AACR2 would be similar (except "in two volumes" would probably not be transcribed under AACR2).

However, why is the language about omissions of certain things (parallel to AACR2 2.14C) and treatment of voluming in the rule about sources of information? This has nothing to do with prescribed sources.

Recommendations:

Consider replacing "title page" language with AACR2's "chief source" language.

Update "prescribed order" language, taken from the original AACR2, to the current AACR2 language.

Move paragraph 3 ("omit") to a more appropriate place (the specific rules about transcription).