Genre and form: Difference between revisions

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Genre/form terms in catalog records describe what an item ''is'' (or contains), not what it is about. ''Genre'' corresponds roughly to the intellectual content of what is being described: for example, almanacs, depositions, plays, and poems. ''Form'' corresponds with physical characteristics. For instance, this [https://catalog.folger.edu/record/170013 catalog record for two copies of a 1635 edition of Sternhold and Hopkins ''Whole booke of Psalmes''] has been assigned the genre terms ''Psalters'', ''Adaptations'', ''Miniature books'', and ''Printing privileges'', and the form term ''Embroidered bindings''. In practice, "genres" and "forms" overlap, so the [[MARC]] cataloging standard uses the same field for both (the [[MARC 655 Index Term - Genre/Form|MARC 655 Genre/Form field]]).


Genre/form terms in catalog records describe what an item ''is'' (or contains), not what it is about. ''Genre'' corresponds roughly to the content of what is being described: for example, almanacs, depositions, plays, and poems. ''Form'' corresponds with formats and physical characteristics: for example, embroidered bindings, imposition errors, manicules, and sammelbands. This [http://hamnet.folger.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=170013 Hamnet record for two copies of a 1635 edition of Sternhold and Hopkins ''Whole booke of Psalmes''] includes the genre term '''Psalters''' and the form term '''Embroidered bindings (Binding)'''. Genre/form terms are controlled by authorized forms.  
==Genre and form in library catalogs==
Catalogers use [[Controlled vocabularies|controlled vocabularies]] to ensure that terminology is more or less the same between different institutions, or can be cross-walked to equivalent terms when sharing data. But as the saying goes, "the great thing about standards is that there are so many to choose from."


==Brief history of genre/form in library catalog records==
Guidance for Folger catalogers can be found in the Folgerpedia article "[[MARC 655 Index Term - Genre/Form]]"; the general order of vocabulary preference is:
*LCSH
* RBMS [https://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/rbmscv.html Controlled Vocabulary for Rare Materials Cataloging]
*Definition of ǂv
* The Getty's [http://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabularies/aat/ Art and Architecture Thesaurus (AAT)] 
*RBMS and other controlled vocabularies
* [https://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/tgm/ Library of Congress Thesaurus for Graphic Materials (TGM)] or [https://id.loc.gov/authorities/genreForms.html Library of Congress Genre/Form Terms].
*Development of LCGFT
* [http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects.html Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH)] or a local term.


==Genre and form use at the Folger==
Form subdivisions also appear at the end of a subject heading, though this practice has largely been replaced by separate Genre/Form terms. At the Folger, these include, for example:
===Basic policy===
* <code> -- Early works to 1800</code> (material ''about'' the named subject that ''is'' pre-1801)
===Conventions for maintenance of the table===
* <code> -- Manuscripts</code> (material ''about'' the named subject that ''is'' manuscript rather than printed)
===List of common genre and form terms in Hamnet===
* <code> -- Pictorial works</code> (material ''about'' the named subject that ''is'' primarily pictorial rather than verbal)


{| class="wikitable sortable"
==Searching genre/form terms in the catalog==
|-
The [[Catalog|Folger catalog]] has several built-in ways to search for items by their genre and form.
! Term !! Scope note !! Folger practice !! Link
* Begin a search then narrow your search results using the '''checkboxes in the Genre/form facet''' in the left-hand side bar (on a mobile device or narrow screen, use the “Options” button to reveal the facets).
|-
* Type '''genreform:''' immediately before a keyword search in the main search box (remember to use quotation marks around phrases). For example:
| Judicial records. ǂ2 aat || Records of a tribunal established for the administration of justice.|| Use for Court rolls, Writs || [http://www.getty.edu/vow/AATFullDisplay?find=&logic=AND&note=&subjectid=300027850 AAT]
** [https://catalog.folger.edu/search?ln=en&p=genreform%3A%22Embroidered%20bindings%22 genreform:"Embroidered bindings"]
|-
** [https://catalog.folger.edu/search?ln=en&p=genreform%3A%28cookbooks+AND+manuscripts%29 genreform:(cookbooks AND manuscripts)]
| ''Court rolls use'' Judicial records || || ||
** [https://catalog.folger.edu/search?ln=en&p=genreform%3A%28epigrams+NOT+manuscripts%29 genreform:(epigrams NOT manuscripts)]
|-
* Follow the '''Advanced Search''' link near the bottom of the catalog's landing page and select "genre/form (what it is)" from the drop-down menus next to any of the three search boxes. You can search by genre/form alone, or combine it with other searches.
| ''Writs use'' Judicial records || || ||
* Follow the '''Browse records''' link near the bottom of the catalog's landing page and select "genre/form (what it is)" then hit the "Search" button to browse an alphabetical list.
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[[Category:Cataloging]]
[[Category:Staff policies and procedures]]

Latest revision as of 13:50, 30 September 2024

Genre/form terms in catalog records describe what an item is (or contains), not what it is about. Genre corresponds roughly to the intellectual content of what is being described: for example, almanacs, depositions, plays, and poems. Form corresponds with physical characteristics. For instance, this catalog record for two copies of a 1635 edition of Sternhold and Hopkins Whole booke of Psalmes has been assigned the genre terms Psalters, Adaptations, Miniature books, and Printing privileges, and the form term Embroidered bindings. In practice, "genres" and "forms" overlap, so the MARC cataloging standard uses the same field for both (the MARC 655 Genre/Form field).

Genre and form in library catalogs

Catalogers use controlled vocabularies to ensure that terminology is more or less the same between different institutions, or can be cross-walked to equivalent terms when sharing data. But as the saying goes, "the great thing about standards is that there are so many to choose from."

Guidance for Folger catalogers can be found in the Folgerpedia article "MARC 655 Index Term - Genre/Form"; the general order of vocabulary preference is:

Form subdivisions also appear at the end of a subject heading, though this practice has largely been replaced by separate Genre/Form terms. At the Folger, these include, for example:

  • -- Early works to 1800 (material about the named subject that is pre-1801)
  • -- Manuscripts (material about the named subject that is manuscript rather than printed)
  • -- Pictorial works (material about the named subject that is primarily pictorial rather than verbal)

Searching genre/form terms in the catalog

The Folger catalog has several built-in ways to search for items by their genre and form.

  • Begin a search then narrow your search results using the checkboxes in the Genre/form facet in the left-hand side bar (on a mobile device or narrow screen, use the “Options” button to reveal the facets).
  • Type genreform: immediately before a keyword search in the main search box (remember to use quotation marks around phrases). For example:
  • Follow the Advanced Search link near the bottom of the catalog's landing page and select "genre/form (what it is)" from the drop-down menus next to any of the three search boxes. You can search by genre/form alone, or combine it with other searches.
  • Follow the Browse records link near the bottom of the catalog's landing page and select "genre/form (what it is)" then hit the "Search" button to browse an alphabetical list.