Graphic novel cataloguing guidelines

In order to have consistency in the cataloguing of all comics, cartoons, and graphic novels, the following graphic novel cataloguing guidelines were developed by the Graphic Novels Committee. The guidelines were presented and accepted at the February 2010 Chinook librarians meeting. The following guidelines apply to all of the Chinook member libraries.

Adult and Young adult graphic novels

Adult and young adult fiction graphic novels are catalogued into the Adult Graphic Novel collection and assigned a 3 letter call number based on the main entry with a GN call number prefix. The genre subject heading 655 _0 Graphic novels is assigned in the bibliographic record.

Adult and young adult non-fiction graphic novels are catalogued into the Adult Graphic Novel collection and assigned the appropriate Dewey number based on the subject content. The call number is prefixed with GN. The genre subject heading 655 _0 Graphic novels is assigned in the bibliographic record.

Adult comic strips and cartoons are catalogued into the Adult Non-fiction collection and assigned a call number of 741.5 and the genre subject heading 655 _0 Comic books, strips, etc. Examples include Cathy, Dilbert, and For Better or Worse, and comic strip compilations of Batman, Superman, and other superheroes that are written for a young adult or adult audience.

It was decided that a Young adult graphic novel collection would not be created. One of the concerns with creating a Young Adult graphic novel collection is that it is very difficult to determine whether a graphic novel should be catalogued in the young adult or adult collection.

Juvenile graphic novels

All juvenile comic strips, cartoons, and juvenile graphic novels are catalogued into the Juvenile Graphic novel collection and assigned a 3 letter call number based on the main entry with a J GN call number prefix. Examples of juvenile graphic novels include, Garfield, Peanuts, Asterix, Tin Tin, and comic strip compilations of Batman, Superman and other superheroes that are written for a juvenile audience.

When cataloguing comic strips, comic books, and cartoons for the Juvenile Graphic Novel collection assign the genre subject heading 655 _0 Comic books, strips, etc. When cataloguing a juvenile graphic novel assign the genre subject heading 655 _0 Graphic novels.

Monographic set or individual records

If a graphic novels set has numbered volumes, but each volume does not have a separate title, it should be catalogued as a set.

If a graphic novel set has individual names for each volume (whether or not they are numbered), each title should usually be catalogued separately.

Examples:

For a Better or Worse Comic Strip Book

Call Number – 741.5 J

650 _0 Families|vComic books, strips, etc.

655 _0 Comic books, strips, etc.

For a Garfield book:

Call Number – J GN DAV

650 _0 Garfield (Fictitious character)|vComic books, strips, etc.

650 _0 Cats|vComic books, strips, etc.

655 _0 Comic books, strips etc.

Updated: June 27, 2013 – Gill WatkinsonPage 1

For a Bones Graphic Novel:

Call Number - J GN SMI

650 _0 Bone (Fictitious character)|vComic books, strip, etc.

655 _0 Graphic novels

Cataloguing and processing Graphic Novels

082 Call number

Use Dewey for non-fiction

For fiction, use the first three letters of the author’s last name or the first three letters of the title in the absence of an author main entry.

100/245 Title, statement of responsibility and main entry

Titles for graphic novels can be very challenging. Many graphic novels do not have title pages, and often the publisher gets very creative with the cover. The indicia usually have the “official” title, or what the publisher considers the title to be. It is very difficult sometimes to determine if something is a series title or a part title. The main thing is to try to be consistent in your cataloguing and to apply the rules as you would for any other type of material. Always check the authority file for series authority records. If something is a series, it should not also be in the title or other title information.

If the title comes from a source other than the chief source, it should be notated in a 500 note.

Statements of responsibility should be transcribed just as they are for other types of materials. If the statement of responsibility is taken from a source other than where the title is taken from, it should be enclosed in square brackets.

With the advent of RDA, relationship designators (add all that apply) are added to all author main entry statements (as well as any additional 700 added entries). There is a list of appropriate titles provided in the Cataloguing Manual. Anyone who contributes to the creation of the item in hand is listed as a 700 entry. Editors, compilers, illustrators, artists etc.

Some examples of what main entries and titles might look like:

100; 1 |aUderzo, Albert,|eauthor,|eillustrator.

245; 10 |aAsterix and Obelix all at sea /|cwritten and illustrated by Albert Uderzo ; translated by Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge.

700; 1 |aBell, Anthea,|etranslator.

700; 1 |aHockridge, Derek,|etranslator.

100; 1 |aKesel, Barbara,|eauthor.

245; 10 |aMeridian,|pFlying solo /|cBarbara Kesel, writer.

100; 1 |aRobbins, Trina,|eauthor.

245; 10 |aMacbeth :b a graphic classic /|cby Trina Robbins ; based on the play by William Shakespeare.

700; 1 |aShakespeare, William,|d1564-1616.|t Macbeth.

264 Publication, distribution, etc.

Follow the new RDA guidelines below.

You must be careful with dates on Graphic Novels. Copyright dates are often updated with each new printing. The date in the fixed field and in the 260 must match the latest copyright for the item if it is catalogued separately.

1)Tag 264 – Publication (Spell out city, province, state, country etc. – no abbreviations)

  1. We will enter known publishing date first, no copyright symbol.
  2. 264 b1 |c2013.
  1. We will enter copyright date if publishing date is not known and insert copyright symbol.
  2. 264 b1 |c©2010.
  1. We will enter both publishing date and copyright date if different.
  2. 264 b1 |c2013, ©2010.
  1. We will not use a 2nd 264 field to display the copyright date. Instead we will use the copyright sign (which can be inserted by using Tools in Workflows).
  2. |c©2013.
  1. We will use a 2nd 264 field when there is a second publisher or distributor using appropriate indicators (see printouts).
  1. When it is not clear which city is listed in the |a of the 264 field, a 500 note will be added:
  1. 264 b1 |aKensington :|bHeadline
  2. 500 bb |aPublished in London, England.
  1. We will no longer use [S.l.] or [ s. n.] or [n.d.], but will spell out the statements:
  2. [Place of publication not identified]
  3. [publisher not identified]
  4. [date of publication not identified]

For those materials catalogued as monographic sets, unless you have the first and the last issue, your dates might not match.

300 Physical description

These items primarily consist of illustrations. In accordance with new RDA cataloguing rules, do not use abbreviations, but spell out all references: pages, volume, colour, black and white, illustrations etc.

300; |a 180 pages :|b colour illustrations ;|c 26 cm

300; |a 145 pages :|b black and white illustrations ;|c 18 cm

300; |a 1 volume (unpaged) :|b colour and black and white illustrations ;|c 22 cm

Add the new RDA 300 tags:

336|atext|2rdacontent

337|aunmediated|2rdamedia

338|avolume|2rdacarrier

500’s Notes

Comic book compilations often contain information about the original publication of the individual issues. If issue numbers are included, include those in the note.

Graphic novels often appear first in serialized form. It is always helpful to include notes about the history of an item.

500; ;a Originally published in magazine form as Tom Strong, #8-14.

500; ;a “This book collects issues 1-7 of the Dark Horse comic-book series Classic Star Wars”—T.p. verso.

When cataloguing an item as a monographic set, be careful to word notes so that they apply to the entire run of the item, and not just to specific issues.

500; ;a Each vol. contains instalments previously published in Smile magazine, e.g. v. 1 is a cumulation of issues 4.1-4.5.

Include notes for Manga publications that are in their original format, e.g. right-to left.

500; ;a “This book is printed and should be read in its original Japanese right to-left format”—Cover.

650’s Subject Headings

Subject headings should be provided for both content and format.

Use the free-floating form subdivision |v Comic books, strips, etc. for all topical headings (fiction and non-fiction).

650; 0;a Runaway teenagers |v Comic books, strips, etc.

650; 0;a Voyages and travels |v Comic books, strips, etc.

Never use double form subdivisions. The following are examples of incorrect subjects.

Dilbert (Fictitious character) |v Comic books, strips, etc. |v Fiction

Cats|vComic books, strips, etc.|vJuvenile literature.

The correct heading is:

Dilbert (Fictitious character) |v Comic books, strips, etc.

Cats|vComic books, strips, etc.

If there is an established fictitious character associated with the book, include a heading for the character.

650; 0 |a Spider-Man (Fictitious character) |v Comic books, strips, etc.

Translations/adaptations

When the translated work has been adapted, enter the work under the person responsible for the adaptation.

100; 1 |a Oniki, Yuji.

245; 10 |a Miyazaki’s spirited away / |c original story and screenplay written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki ; English adaptation by Yuji Oniki.

246; 30 |a Spirited away

Updated: June 27, 2013 – Gill WatkinsonPage 1