Cataloging Exhibition Publications: Best Practices
Exhibition publications pose unique cataloging challenges and often require more use of cataloger's judgment than other types of art documentation. For example, what is included in the title statement? Who is the primary access point–artist, author, or neither? Thorny questions such as these are answered concisely and with real-world examples.
These best practices, created by the ARLIS/NA Cataloging Advisory Committee, provide practical guidance to catalogers working with art exhibition publications. They are intended to be used in conjunction with other cataloging documentation, including Resource Description and Access (RDA) and LC-PCC Policy Statements and Metadata Guidance Documents. Examples are given using the MARC21 format for consistency and familiarity, but these guidelines are intended to be applicable regardless of schema.
Title and Statement of Responsibility
Assigning Subject and Genre/Form Headings
Title and Statement of Responsibility
Provides guidance on recording title and statement of responsibility information for exhibition publications, which often requires more use of cataloger’s judgment, as well as more intervention in terms of transposing, omitting, and supplying data.
Written and compiled by members of the ARLIS/NA Cataloging Advisory Committee, 2001-2007: Penny Baker, Lynda Bunting, Anne Champagne, Sherman Clarke, Linda Cuccurullo, Claudia Hill, Elizabeth Lilker, Nancy Norris, Elizabeth O'Keefe, Maria Oldal, Trudi Olivetti, Elizabeth Robinson, Judy Silverman, Daniel Starr, Kay Teel. Updated by members of the ARLIS/NA Cataloging Advisory Committee 2018-2022: Bronwen Bitetti, William Blueher, Sherman Clarke, Marie-Chantal L'Ecuyer-Coelho, Tamara Fultz, John Maier, Calli Neumann, Elizabeth O’Keefe, Maria Oldal, Sarah Osborne Bender, Treshani Perera, Alexandra Provo, Andrea Puccio, Karen Stafford, Karly Wildenhaus.
Notes
Provides guidance on adding notes for exhibition catalogs at the work, expression, manifestation, and item level.
Written and compiled by members of the ARLIS/NA Cataloging Advisory Committee, 2001-2008: Penny Baker, Lynda Bunting, Anne Champagne, Sherman Clarke, Linda Cuccurullo, Claudia Hill, Elizabeth Lilker, Nancy Norris, Elizabeth O'Keefe, Maria Oldal, Trudi Olivetti, Sarah Quimby, Elizabeth Robinson, Judy Silverman, Daniel Starr, Kay Teel. Updated by members of the ARLIS/NA Cataloging Advisory Committee 2018-2022: Bronwen Bitetti, William Blueher, Sherman Clarke, Marie-Chantal L'Ecuyer-Coelho, Tamara Fultz, John
Maier, Calli Neumann, Elizabeth O’Keefe, Maria Oldal, Sarah Osborne Bender, Alexandra Provo, Andrea Puccio, Karen Stafford, Karly Wildenhaus.
Name and Title Access Points
Provides guidance on choosing name and title access points for exhibition publications, which is complicated by the need to record information about the exhibition as well as the publication.
Written and compiled by members of the ARLIS/NA Cataloging Advisory Committee 2009/2010: Lynda Bunting, Sherman Clarke, Marly Helm, Elizabeth Lilker, Elizabeth O'Keefe, Sara Quimby, Daniel Starr. Updated by members of the ARLIS/NA Cataloging Advisory Committee 2018–2024: Bronwen Bitetti, William Blueher, Katelyn Borbely, Sherman Clarke, Nick Curotto, Marie-Chantal L'Ecuyer-Coelho, Tamara Fultz, John Maier, Christina Manzella, Cheryl Miller, Calli Neumann, Elizabeth O’Keefe, Maria Oldal, Sarah Osborne Bender, Treshani Perera, Alexandra Provo, Andrea Puccio, Raphael Sasayama, Karen Stafford, Karly Wildenhaus.
Assigning Subject and Genre/Form Headings
Provides guidance on assigning subject headings for exhibition catalogs in accordance with the relevant sections of the Library of Congress Subject Headings Manual. The chapter covers meeting names, named works of art, and the use of genre/form terms, among other topics.
Written and compiled by members of the ARLIS/NA Cataloging Advisory Committee, 2001-2008: Penny Baker, Lynda Bunting, Anne Champagne, Sherman Clarke, Linda Cuccurullo, Claudia Hill, Elizabeth Lilker, Nancy Norris, Elizabeth O'Keefe, Maria Oldal, Trudi Olivetti, Sarah Quimby, Elizabeth Robinson, Judy Silverman, Daniel Starr, Kay Teel. Updated by members of the ARLIS/NA Cataloging Advisory Committee 2018-2023: Bronwen Bitetti, William Blueher, Sherman Clarke, Marie-Chantal L'Ecuyer-Coelho, Tamara Fultz, John Maier, Calli Neumann, Elizabeth O’Keefe, Maria Oldal, Sarah Osborne Bender, Alexandra Provo, Andrea Puccio, Karen Stafford, Karly Wildenhaus.