D Rules for Cataloguing Digital Resources

D Rules for Cataloguing Digital Resources

D Rules for cataloguing digital resources

These rules cover the description of digital resources that are encoded for manipulation by computer. These resources comprise data and programs. Digital resources may be stored on, or contained in, carriers available for direct access or by remote access. Electronic books and serials are covered in chapters 2 and 12 of AACR2, respectively. (AACR 9.0A1)

D1 Chief source of information

Last updated: Mar 2004

  • The chief source(s) of information for digital resources is/are the title screen(s).
  • If there is no title screen, take the information from other formally presented internal evidence (eg main menus, program statements, first display of information, the header to the resource including “Subject:” lines, information at the end of the resource). In case of variation in fullness of information found in these sources, prefer the source with the most complete information.
  • If the information required is not accessible from internal sources, take it from the following sources (in this order of preference):
    - the physical carrier or its labels
    - documentation issued by the publisher, creator, etc, with the resource
  • If the item being described consists of two or more separate physical parts which do not furnish a collective title, treat a container or its permanently affixed label that is the unifying element as the chief source of information if it furnishes a collective title. If the information required is not available from the chief source or the sources listed above, take it from the following sources (in this order of preference):
    - other published descriptions of the resource
    - other sources (AACR 9.0B1)

D2 Title and statement of responsibility

Last updated: June 2009

(See AACR Chapter 1 and section A3 of this manual, unless information specific to digital resources is outlined here.)

  • General material designation: if a digital resource contains parts belonging to materials falling into two or more categories, and if none of these is the predominant constituent of the item(s), give either multimedia or kit as the designation (AACR 9.1A, see also AACR 1.1C1 and AACR 1.10C1)
  • Items without a collective title: if a digital resource lacks a collective title, either describe the item as a unit (AACR 9.1B2 and AACR 9.1B3) or make a separate description for each separately titled part (AACR 9.1B4)
  • In describing as a unit a digital resource lacking a collective title, transcribe the titles of the individual parts as instructed in AACR 1.1B3. (AACR 9.1B2)
  • Make the relationship between statements of responsibility and the parts of an item lacking a collective title and described as a unit byadding a word or short phrase to the statement of responsibility if the relationship between the title and person(s) or body (bodies) named in the statement of responsibility is not clear

eg Redistricting program [GMD] / [prepared by] Stuart Nagel [for the] Inter-University Consortium for Political Research

(AACR 9.1B3)

  • If a computer file contains parts belonging to materials falling into two or more categories, and if none of these is the predominantconstituent of the item, give either multimedia or kit as the designation (see AACR 1.1C1 and AACR 1.10C1). (AACR 9.1C1)
  • Transcribe parallel titles as instructed in AACR 1.1D. (AACR 9.1D1)
  • Transcribe other title information as instructed in AACR 1.1E. (AACR 9.1E1)
  • Transcribe statements of responsibility relating to those persons or bodies credited with a major role in creating the content of the file as instructed in AACR 1.1F. (AACR 9.1F1)
  • If a computer file lacks a collective title, either describe the item as a unit (see AACR 9.1G2 and AACR 9.1G3) or make a separate description for each separately title part (see AACR 9.1G4) (AACR 9.1G1)
    In describing as a unit a computer file lacking a collective title, transcribe the titles of the individual parts as instructed in AACR 1.1G3. (AACR 9.1G2.)
    Optionally, make a separate description for each separately titled part of an item lacking a collective title. For the statement of the extent in each of these descriptions, see AACR 9.5B2. Link the separate descriptions with the notes (see AACR 9.7B21). For instructions on sources of information, see AACR 9.0B. (AACR 9.1G3)

D3 Edition statements

Last updated: Mar 2004

9.2A. Preliminary rule

9.2B. Edition Statement

9.2C. Statements of responsibility relating to the edition

9.2D. Statement relating to a named revision of an edition

9.2E. Statements of responsibility relating to a named revision of an edition

  • For instructions on punctuation, see AACR 1.0C. (AACR 9.2A1)
  • Transcribe a statement relating to an edition of a computer file that contains differences from other editions of that file, or to a named reissue of a file, as instructed in AACR 1.2B, unless otherwise specified in this section. Give the source of a note (see AACR 9.7B7) if it is different from the source of the title proper. In case of doubt about whether a statement is an edition statement, take the presence of words such as edition, issue, version, release, level, update(or their equivalents in other languages) as evidence that the statement is an edition statement. (AACR 9.2B1)
  • If a computer file lacks an edition statement, but is known to contain significant changes from other editions (eg changes in the data involving content, standardized coding, etc , changes in the programming, including changes in the program statements, programming language, and programming routines and operations; the addition of sound or graphics; improvement of graphics), supply a suitable brief statement in the language and script of the title proper and enclose it in square brackets. (AACR 9.2B2)
  • Do not treat an issue of a file that incorporates minor changes as a new edition. Such minor changes include corrections of misspellings of date, changes in the arrangement of the contents, changes in the output format or the display medium, and changes in the physical characteristics (eg blocking factors, recording density). If desired, give the details of such changes in a note (see AACR 9.7B7). (AACR 9.2B3)
  • Transcribe an edition statement appearing in accompanying material only if it also refers to the file. In case of doubt, do not record such an edition statement. (AACR 9.2B4)
  • If an edition statement appears in more than one language or script, transcribe this statement that is in the language or script of the title proper. If this criterion does not apply, transcribe the statement that appears first. Optionally, transcribe the parallel statement(s), each preceded by an equals sign. (AACR 9.2B5)
  • If an item lacking a collective title and described as a unit contains one or more works with an associated edition statement, transcribe such statements following the titles and statements of responsibility to which they relate, separated from them by a full stop. (AACR 9.2B6)
  • Transcribe a statement of responsibility relating to one or more editions, but not to all editions, of a file as instructed in 1.2C and 9.1F. If desired, transcribe other statements of responsibility relating to the edition in a note (see AACR 9.7B7). (AACR 9.2C1)

D4 File characteristics

Last updated: Mar 2004

  • Designation: when the information is readily available, indicate the type of file. Use one of the following terms:
    - computer data
    - computer program(s)
    - computer data and program(s)
  • If general material designations are used (see AACR 1.1C1), omit computer from the file designation. (AACR 9.3A)
  • Number of records, statements, etc. If a file designation is given and if the information is readily available, give the number or approximate number of files that make up the content (use file or files preceded by an Arabic numeral) and/or these other details:
    1) Data. Give the number or approximate number of records (use records) and/or bytes (give the term in either abbreviated or full form).

Computer data (1 file : 350 records)

Computer data (550 records)

Computer data (1 file : 600 records, 240,000 bytes)

2) Programs. Give the number or approximate number of statements (use statements) and/or bytes (give the term in either abbreviated or full form).

Computer program (1 file: 200 statements)

Computer program (2150 statements)

3)Multipart files. Give the number or approximate number of records and/or bytes, or statements and/or bytes, in each part according to 1) and 2) above. If such numbering cannot be given succinctly, omit the information from this area. If desired, give it in a note (see AACR 9.7B8). (AACR 9.3B)

D5 Publication, distribution etc.

Last updated: Mar 2004

Unless otherwise stated in this section, see AACR 1.0C-1.4 for rules regarding publication statements, including punctuation. (AACR 9.4A)

D6 Physical description

Last updated: Mar 2004

  • Do not give a physical description for a computer file that is available only by remote access. (See AACR 9.7.B1c and AACR 9.7B10). (AACR 9.5A1)
  • Record the number of physical units of the carrier by giving the number of them in Arabic numerals and one of the following terms as appropriate:

computer disc for magnetically encoded computer discs

computer optical disc for optically encoded computer discs.

  • When new physical carriers are developed for which none of these terms is appropriate, give the specific name of the physical carrier as concisely as possible, preferably qualified by computer.
  • Give a trade name or similar specification in a note. (AACR 9.5B)

D7 Other physical details

Last updated: June 2009

  • If the file is encoded to produce sound, give sd If the file is encoded to display in two or more colours, give col(separated by a space colon space)

1 computer disc : sd

1 computer disc : col

  • Give the details of the requirements for the production of sound or the display of colour in a note (see 9.7B1b). (AACR 9.5C1)

D8 Dimensions

Last updated: June 2009

  • Give the dimensions of the physical carrier in inches, to the next ¼ inch up.Punctuation as in examples including spaces

1 computer disc : col ; 5 ¼ in (AACR 9.5D1)

  • If the item consists of more than one physical carrier and they differ in size, give the smallest or smaller and the largest or larger size, separated by a hyphen.

3 computer discs ; 3 ½ -5 ¼ in (AACR 9.5D2)

D9 Accompanying material

Last updated: Mar 2004

  • Give the details of accompanying material as instructed in 1.5E.

1 computer disc ; 5 ¼ in + 1 user’s guide (AACR 9.5E1)

  • If no physical description is given (see AACR 9.5A1), give details of any accompanying material in a note (see AACR 9.7B11). (AACR 9.5E2)

D10 Series

Last updated: Mar 2004

Record each series statement as instructed in AACR 1.6. (AACR 9.6A1)

D11 Notes

Last updated: Mar 2004

Nature and scope and system requirements:

a)Nature and scope. Make notes on the nature or scope of the file unless it is apparent from the rest of the description.

Game

Word processor

Spread sheet, with word processing and graphic capabilities

b)System requirements. Make a note on the system requirements of the file if the information is readily available. Begin the note with System requirements: Give the following characteristics in the order in which they are listed below. Precede each characteristic, other than the first, by a semicolon. Include the following characteristics:

The make and model of the computer(s) on which the file is designed to run

The amount of memory required

The name of the operating system

The software requirements (including the programming language)

The kind and characteristics of any required or recommended peripherals (AACR 9.7A1)

Top View