Music Library Association Best Practices for title proper

LC/PCC Core.

LC/PCC practice: In most cases, record the title proper in such a way that definite and indefinite articles at the beginning of the title proper are disregarded for sorting and filing purposes. However, do not disregard certain articles

1. When the title proper begins with an article that appears as part of a Person: name of person, Family: name of family, Place: name of place, or Corporate Body: name of corporate body and is retained in such a name per the instructions for Manifestation: Link or
2. When the title proper begins with an article and the context or cataloger's judgment require its retention because it is essential to the meaning of the title.

LC/PCC practice: See the Metadata Guidance documentation: Manifestation: title proper.

LC/PCC practice: See the Metadata Guidance documentation: Series/Subseries elements.

LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.

LC/PCC practice: Always apply the option for online resources, rare graphics, and serial works. Apply the option for other resources when the title proper does not come from one of these sources:

1. the title page, title sheet, or title card (or image of it) of a manifestation consisting of multiple pages, leaves, sheets, or cards (or images of them)
2. the title frame or title screen of a manifestation consisting of moving images

If the manifestation has only a single title and the title appears on the manifestation itself, exercise cataloger's judgment to record the source from which the title proper is taken.

LC/PCC practice: If the titles are in the same language and script, then choose a title proper on the basis of the sequence, layout, or typography of the titles on the source of information. See the instructions on Guidance: Data provenance. Recording a source of metadata that is a manifestation that is being described for the preferred sources of information.

LC/PCC practice: If the sequence, layout, and typography do not provide the basis for a clear choice of title proper, choose the most comprehensive title. See the instructions on Guidance: Data provenance. Recording a source of metadata that is a manifestation that is being described for the preferred sources of information.

LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.

LC/PCC practice: For works with individual titles that are part of a common title (i.e., an original broadcast series and not a publisher/distributor series that would be treated as a series statement), such as an episode or an excerpt of a radio series, transcribe a title that uses the common title in conjunction with either the individual title or a numeric designation (e.g., episode number, program number, show number) or both.

LC/PCC practice: Do not apply the option.

LC/PCC practice: IF: the work is part of a monographic series or a multipart monograph and all parts are individually described, yet lack a title of part or a distinctive title of part, THEN: transcribe a title that uses the common title in conjunction with the numbering and/or dependent title. Do not record a Manifestation: series statement.

LC/PCC practice: Cataloger's judgment.

LC/PCC practice: IF: the content of the resource is written, spoken, or sung and the source of information for a title proper has a title in more than one language or script, THEN: apply the option.

LC/PCC practice: IF: the content is not written, spoken, or sung, or there is no main content in a single language, THEN: apply the option.

LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.

LC/PCC practice: Apply the option. See Manifestation: title of manifestation. Titles of aggregates.

LC/PCC practice: Apply the option. In most cases, do not devise a collective title if the manifestation does not have one. See Manifestation: title of manifestation. Titles of aggregates.

LC practice: For archival moving image resources, Cataloger's judgment.

LC/PCC practice: Cataloger's judgment.

LC/PCC practice: Cataloger's judgment.

LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.

LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.

LC/PCC practice: Apply the option to all the elements that appear if the title of manifestation consists only of these elements.

LC/PCC practice: For minor change categories:

• Consider that "one spelling vs. another" applies both in the case of ordinary orthographic variations and in the case of official orthographic changes. Consider that "a change in grammatical form" includes singular vs. plural, adjective vs. noun, and genitive vs. nominative case.
• n/a
• If the change is in the name of a body that is part of the title proper and the change requires the creation of a new heading for the body Corporate Body: Different names or forms of name for the same corporate body, consider such a change to be a major change. Consider the presence or absence of the name or title of the official of the body to be a minor change. Consider the presence or absence of the body to whom a publication is presented to be a minor change.
• n/a
• Also apply the category when the title is given in more than one script. Do not consider there to be a major change even if the addition of the title in another language or script on a later issue would affect the choice of title proper if the description were based on that issue. However, consider that there has been a major change if there is evidence that the publisher intentionally changed the title; such evidence may include, for example, a statement by the publisher or a new ISSN printed on the publication.
• n/a
• Also apply the category when the language of the title varies according to the language of the text. However, consider that there has been a major change if there is evidence that the publisher intentionally changed the title; such evidence may include, for example, a statement by the publisher or a new ISSN printed on the publication.
• Consider that "a list" means at least three terms.
• The change from one word to another (e.g., the change from "magazine" to "journal") is a major change. The word "series" does indicate a type of resource. A word denoting frequency (e.g., "monthly") does not indicate a type of resource.

LC/PCC practice: Apply the option to all diachronic works that are serials (including monographic series), and to series-like phrases. Multiple minor changes in the title do not equal a major change. If a title of manifestation of a diachronic work does not meet the criteria of a minor change in title, then see the instructions at Manifestation: variant title of manifestation.

LC/PCC practice: For multipart monographs, do not apply the option. Instead, regard all changes in title proper as Manifestation: variant title of manifestation. Record only changes that are considered important for identification or access.

LC/PCC practice: For integrating works, do not apply the option. Instead, change a title proper to reflect the current iteration of an integrating work if there is a change of a title proper on a subsequent iteration.

LC/PCC practice: When deciding if this option applies to an existing bibliographic record, compare the title on that issue or part to the title proper in the bibliographic record.

LC/PCC practice: In most cases, consider all changes in the title proper of 17th-19th century U.S. almanacs or session laws of the U.S. states to be minor changes and do not create a new metadata record.

PCC practice: When deciding if this option applies to an existing series authority record, compare the title proper on that issue or part to the title proper in the authorized access point of the series authority record.

PCC practice: Apply the option for monographic series when evaluating the Work: preferred title of work. Record the change in title proper as a Work: variant access point for work in the description for the monographic series.

LC/PCC practice: Cataloger's judgment.