Music Library Association Best Practices for script
Prerecording
Prerecording
Routinely record the element for notated music that includes sung or spoken text if knowledge of one or more non-Latin scripts is necessary for performance. Record the element for notated music that includes sung or spoken text in both a non-Latin script and a Latin transliteration if deemed useful for identification or selection.
Follow LC-PCC PS for the first option under Recording a structured description and use the English language names of scripts found at: Codes for representation of names of scripts. Generally do not include the parenthetical information found in the list when recording the script name unless the removal of the parenthetical information will generate the Condition under Recording a structured description.
LC/PCC Core if a language is commonly written in more than one script, and if the resource is in a script other than the primary one for the language.
LC/PCC practice: See the Metadata Guidance documentation: Expression: script.
LC/PCC practice: See the Metadata Guidance documentation: Expression: language of expression.
Recording an unstructured description
Option
LC/PCC practice: Do not apply the option.
Option
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option. When recording complex notes involving multiple languages, record information about both the language and script.
LC/PCC practice: See the Metadata Guidance documentation: Expression: script.
Option
LC/PCC practice: Do not apply the option.
Recording a structured description
Option
Follow LC-PCC PS and use the English language names of scripts found at: Codes for the representation of names of scripts. Generally do not include the parenthetical information found in the list when recording the script name unless the removal of the parenthetical information will generate the Condition under Recording a structured description. If removal of the parenthetical information will generate the Condition, prefer entering the full term from the VES or the portion of the term from the parenthetical information as appropriate for identification or selection. If neither is appropriate, follow the Condition option.
LC/PCC practice: Use the English language names of scripts found at: Codes for the representation of names of scripts. Generally do not include the parenthetical information found in the list when recording the script name.
LC/PCC practice: See the Metadata Guidance documentation: Expression: script.
Option
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option if specifically required by policy or the metadata system, as stated in the Metadata Guidance documentation.
Condition Option
Prefer the following terms to those found in the Unicode list of names of scripts:
- Record "Fraktur" in place of "Latin (Fraktur variant)"
- Record "Gaelic" in place of "Latin (Gaelic variant)"
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.
Recording an identifier
Option
LC/PCC practice: If a local encoding scheme is able to record the value of an element as an identifier or IRI, use judgment in applying the recording method.
Option
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option if specifically required by policy or the metadata system, as stated in the Metadata Guidance documentation.
Recording an IRI
Option
LC/PCC practice: If a local encoding scheme is able to record the value of an element as an identifier or IRI, use judgment in applying the recording method.
Document Date: 2026/06/14
Document: https://access.rdatoolkit.org/en-US_ala-cd8b8750-6a22-3934-8a1d-689229f6ba2c