Cataloging beyond the Notes: Annotating Bibliographic Records for Music Effectively in RDA

Book excerpt: In Cataloging beyond the Notes: Annotating Bibliographic Records for Music Effectively in RDA, authors Ralph Hartsock and Peter Lisius present examples illustrating the effective use of notes in the description of music, and this is especially important with RDA. Since RDA has increased granularity in the description of music, whether in score, recording, video, or data formats, the expert direction offered in Cataloging beyond the Notes makes it a key reference for music cataloging. Bibliographic records are presented using MARC21. An essential resource for practicing music catalogers, Cataloging beyond the Notes begins with a comprehensive introduction, including instructions on how to use the book, and presents examples of the granular data that informs users about specific details. In addition, the examples are augmented by the authors’ commentary, so that the result is expert guidance in a single, highly accessible publication. More than that, navigation to and from the newer RDA format is facilitated by an appendix keyed to specific RDA details. Frequently used and related terms are also covered in a glossary specific to this volume. Taken as a whole, Cataloging beyond the Notes belongs in every music library and on each cataloger’s desk.