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Policies

Music Library Association Best Practices for Data provenance

Recording a note on metadata

Option

LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.

Option

For instructions on when to record a note about the content of a metadata work, see Work: note on metadata work.

Recording an agent who publishes metadata

Option

LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.

Option

Option

LC/PCC practice: Apply the option when it is applicable. In most cases, the system records the agent who published the metadata for the entire metadata set.

Recording an agent who records metadata

Option

LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.

Option

LC/PCC practice: Apply the option when it is applicable. In most cases, the system offers an option to record the agent who recorded the metadata for the entire metadata set.

Recording a content standard used for metadata

Option

LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.

Option

In MARC: Apply the option by recording the value rda in field 040 subfield $e. Record additional content standards, if any, in subsequent instances of subfield $e.

Recording a language of description

Option

LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.

Option

LC/PCC practice: Always specify that the language of cataloging is English. In most cases, the system offers an option to record the language of description for the entire metadata set for non-transcribed elements.

Recording a scope for validity of metadata

Option

LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.

Option

LC/PCC practice: Apply the option when it is applicable. In most cases, the system offers the options to record the scope of validity of the metadata set.

Recording a script of description

Option

LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.

Option

LC/PCC practice: Apply the option when it is applicable. In most cases, the system offers the options to record the script of description of the metadata set for all non-transcribed elements.

Recording a source of metadata

Option

LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.

Condition Option

LC/PCC practice: Do not apply the option. Prefer instead the following external sources of information, in this order:

  1. Subordinate materials (e.g., a leaflet, an “about” file) that are not treated as part of the manifestation itself
  2. A published description of the manifestation
  3. A container that is not issued with the manifestation itself
  4. Any other available source

Recording a source of metadata that is a manifestation that is being described

Recording a source of metadata that is a manifestation that is being described

For resources issued in multiple units, apply the following guidelines when evaluating the conditions and options below:

If the manifestation that is being described consists of a score (or scores) issued with one or more parts, prefer the score (along with a cover or wrapper if present) as the source of information for manifestation data. Use cataloger's judgment in determining whether or not the resource has a cover. Generally consider a cover to be made of substantially different material (e.g., heavier or different colored paper) than the paper on which the music is printed.

If the manifestation consists of a set of musical parts with no score, and the manifestation lacks a cover or container, use cataloger's judgment in selecting a source of information, giving preference to parts that would generally appear first in score order (e.g., violin I in a string quartet, flute in a wind quintet).

If the manifestation consists of a book or score issued with audio/video carrier(s), and the audio/video carrier is affixed to the cover or endpapers of the book or score, prefer the book or score as the source of information. Otherwise generally consider the audio/video carrier to be the primary component and source of information for the manifestation.

If the manifestation consists of an audio/video carrier issued with a book or score, and

  • the carriers are housed together in a single container (e.g., a box containing a CD jewel case and a book, or
  • the book or score is inserted into the container (e.g., a booklet in a jewel case), or
  • the book or score is the same size as the audio or video carrier,
then prefer the audio/video carrier as the source of information. A booklet cover which is visible through the front of a container is considered part of that container.

Condition Option

LC/PCC practice: Apply the option when necessary to the element being described. See the requirements for each specific element to determine when it is necessary. The manifestation in hand is the default resource unless otherwise stated. Apply option re: note on title: re: source of title proper to always record a note on the source of the Manifestation: title proper for online resources, rare graphics, and in a CONSER Standard Record.

For further instructions on when to record a note on the source of the Manifestation: note on title: option for the source of a variant title.

Condition Option

If the source chosen is not a title page, sheet, or card, indicate the source in a Manifestation: note on title.

If a resource has a page that consists of a list of titles, one of which is the title of the resource being described (e.g., a set of songs issued with each song printed as a separate volume, each of which lists all the songs in the set), use cataloger's judgment in deciding whether that page or another source (e.g., a caption) provides the best source for the description of the resource.

LC/PCC practice: Apply the option. Do not record the source of information for the manifestation transcription elements unless otherwise instructed.

LC/PCC practice: Take a title proper of series and a numbering within sequence from the following sources of information, in this order:

  1. Series title page
  2. Another source within the manifestation itself
  3. One of the external sources of information specified at Guidance: : Recording a source of metadata: option re: preferred external sources of information

LC/PCC practice: For serials, the following are exceptions to the preferred source of information only when cataloging retrospectively and only when there are no existing records to be cancelled.

  1. If an issue has two or more different titles and the title that appears in a less preferred source is known (because of a trademark or other symbol that appears with it) to be the stable title that does not vary from issue to issue, use the source with the stable title as the preferred source of information.
  2. If two or more issues are available and the title appearing in a less preferred source remains stable from issue to issue (e.g., if the masthead title remains stable but the cover title changes from issue to issue), use the source with the stable title as the preferred source of information.
  3. If a title page is added to or dropped from issues, consider that the serial lacks a title page and identify the preferred source of information according to the priority order of sources.

LC/PCC practice: Do not consider pre-publication cataloging data (foreign or domestic) appearing in the item as a source of information for manifestation transcription elements.

LC/PCC practice: For the description of a serial, use a volume title page as the preferred source of information only when there is no source on an individual issue that is sufficient for the description of the serial.

For instructions on choosing a source of information for the name or repository designation of a physical manuscript, see Manifestation: : option to record a source of information.

Condition Option

LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.

Condition Option

LC/PCC practice: Apply the option. If the manifestation contains a preferred source of information for the reproduction as well as a preferred source of information for the original, use the source for the reproduction as the preferred source of information.

LC/PCC practice: If the reproduction lacks a title page, title sheet, or title card, prefer the following recording sources, in this order:

  1. An image of a cover or jacket issued with the manifestation
  2. An image of a caption
  3. An image of a masthead
  4. An image of a colophon

LC practice: Do not apply the option to direct access electronic resources. Prefer instead an eye-readable label that is permanently affixed to the manifestation as a source of information.

Condition Option

LC practice: Do not apply the option to microforms. Apply instead the option at Guidance: option re: preferred sources of information.

Condition Option

LC/PCC practice: Apply the option. If the title frames or title screens only list the titles of the individual contents and another source forming part of the manifestation has a formally-presented collective title, use as the preferred source of information the first applicable source with a formally-presented collective title. If a source other than a title frame or title screen is used as the preferred source of information, record a note on the source of the Manifestation: title proper.

For instructions on choosing the preferred source of information for archival moving images, see Manifestation: title proper: option re: source of information.

Condition Option

Apply the option if a title frame or title screen is not feasible to use as a source of information, or if the label presents a collective title while the title frames or screens do not. Routinely indicate the source of title in a Manifestation: note on title.

Condition Option

LC/PCC practice: Do not apply the option to tangible resources. Prefer instead the following recording sources that carry a title, in this order:

  1. A label that is permanently affixed to the manifestation
  2. A container of the manifestation
  3. A digital menu
  4. Another source on any part of the manifestation itself, giving preference to sources in which the information is formally presented.
Record a note on the source of the Manifestation: title proper as a Manifestation: note on title.

LC/PCC practice: Do not apply the option to online resources. Prefer instead the following recording sources that carry a title, in this order:

  1. Textual content
  2. Embedded metadata in textual form that contains a title
  3. Another source on any part of the manifestation itself, giving preference to sources in which the information is formally presented. Record a note on the source of the Manifestation: title proper.

Condition Option

Follow LC-PCC PS for all audio carriers.

LC/PCC practice: Do not apply the option to tangible resources. Prefer instead the following recording sources that carry a title, in this order:

  1. A textual source on the manifestation or a label that is permanently affixed to the manifestation
  2. An internal source, such as a title screen, whose textual content formally presents the title
  3. A container of the manifestation
  4. Another source on any part of the manifestation itself, giving preference to sources in which the information is formally presented If a source of information only lists the titles of the individual contents and another source forming part of the manifestation has a formally-presented collective title, use as the preferred source of information the first applicable source with a formally-presented collective title. Record a note on the source of the Manifestation: title proper.

LC/PCC practice: Do not apply the option to online resources. Prefer instead the following recording sources that carry a title, in this order:

  1. Textual content
  2. Embedded metadata in textual form that contains a title
  3. Another source on any part of the manifestation itself, giving preference to sources in which the information is formally presented. If a source of information only lists the titles of the individual contents and another source forming part of the manifestation has a formally-presented collective title, use as the preferred source of information the first applicable source with a formally-presented collective title. Record a note on the source of the Manifestation: title proper.

Condition Option

LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.

Condition Option

LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.

Recording a source of metadata that is not a manifestation that is being described

Condition Option

LC/PCC practice: Apply the option when it is applicable. For further instructions on recording a source consulted in association with data identifying agents or in association with relationships between agents, works, expressions, manifestations, or items, see Work: source consulted.

Condition Option

LC/PCC practice: Apply the option when it is applicable. Use square brackets in bibliographic records if information taken from a source outside a resource itself is supplied in any of the following transcribed elements: title, statement of responsibility, edition statement, numbering of sequence, production statement, publication statement, distribution statement, manufacture statement, and series statement. If the resource is of a type that does not normally carry identifying information, do not use square brackets to indicate that the information was taken from a source outside the resource. For archival moving image resources, square brackets are used only if the information taken from sources outside the manifestation are considered to be probable or questionable.

Condition Option

LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.

Recording a timespan for validity of metadata

Option

LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.

Option

LC/PCC practice: Cataloger's judgment.

Recording a timespan when metadata are published

Option

LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.

Option

LC/PCC practice: Cataloger's judgment.

Recording a transcription standard used for metadata

Option

LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.

Option

LC/PCC practice: Cataloger's judgment.

Document Date: 2025/06/06
Document: https://access.rdatoolkit.org/en-US_ala-fc9d016f-eb2c-37d3-ac42-02bfcd267d0c

  • Previous: Music Library Association Best Practices for variant access point for work
  • Next: Music Library Association Best Practices for Manifestation statements

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