Preliminary cataloging

Revision as of 10:24, 7 January 2017 by DeborahLeslie (talk | contribs)

Whenever possible, material is fully cataloged in Hamnet before being exhibited or put up for adoption at Acq Night. When there isn't time for full cataloging, catalogers make sure that the following information is reasonable in Hamnet:

  • Fixed field data
  • Title (verify transcription)
  • GMD, if applicable (usually "[graphic]" or "[manuscript]")
  • Statement of responsibility, if applicable (verify transcription)
  • Place of creation, if applicable (verify transcription)
  • Publisher, if applicable (verify transcription)
  • Date (verify transcription)
  • Relationship designators, if present
  • Information from the dealer's description, if present, has an introductory phrase (like "Dealer's description:")
  • For manuscripts: add genre term for Manuscripts, and any other readily-ascertainable GFTs (don't add subfields for location or century, but don't delete if already there). Commonly-used GFTs:
‡a Blank forms. ‡2 aat
‡a Cookbooks. ‡2 aat
‡a Financial records. ‡2 aat
‡a Formularies. ‡2 aat
‡a Genealogies (histories) ‡2 aat
‡a Indentures. ‡2 aat
‡a Letters (correspondence) ‡2 aat
‡a Manuscripts (documents) ‡2 aat
‡a Receipts (financial records) ‡2 aat
‡a Sermons. ‡2 aat
‡a Treaties. ‡2 aat

In addition:

  • If the record has an authorized access point for a creator or for the work, verify that it's in the preferred form.
  • Delete or correct any obviously incorrect access points.
  • Keep the HBCN "This record represents material that has not yet been cataloged. It may contain incorrect or incomplete information. Please consult Curator for assistance," unless adding a copy to a cataloged record. In that case, delete the HBCN from the bibliographic record and add to the holding record 852‡z: "This copy has not yet been cataloged. The description may contain incorrect or incomplete information. Please consult Curator for assistance."
  • Add a 583 note to indicate preliminary cataloging


After exhibition, return to the item and catalog it fully. For Acq Night items, full cataloging is only a priority if the item was adopted.