Date:         Thu, 5 May 2005 19:47:08 -0400
Reply-To:     Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
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Sender:       Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
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From:         "Steven C. Barr" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:      Re: Cataloging sound recordings
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----- Original Message -----
From: "Susan Stinson" <[log in to unmask]>
> >>> [log in to unmask] 5/4/2005 9:52:41 PM >>>
> >Cataloguing databases refer to actual, physical entities...these
> being
> the phonorecords that are held by a particular individual or
> institution.
> As such, they include fields only applicable to these specific
> phonorecords:
> items like Condition, Damage, Price Paid, Acquisition Date and similar,
> as
> well as information on where they specific item is stored. From a
> strictly
> technical standpoint, these databases do not need to include detailed
> discographic information; presumably, the catalog user can obtain that
> data
> from the phonorecord itself, after establishing the collection
> includes
> a copy and accessing it.
>
> The problem with not including some pertinent information here is
> particularly with institutional archival collections that are
> non-circulating - the stacks are closed.   This means that in order to
> verify whether a recording in the catalog is the one being sought, staff
> [me, in our case!] has to go to the shelves, locate the disc(s) and then
> reply to the inquirer.  This is not efficient for me, nor helpful to
> researchers.  Some versions, especially but not limited to the early
> years, have different performers or conductors - but the label name and
> issue numbers are the same.  Matrix numbers, take indicators, etc. are
> all significant in identifying recordings.  I wish I had a dollar for
> every time I have said that records aren't books and shouldn't be
> treated as such: I could take a nice vacation.
> Sue
Oh, I agree...which is why my personal catalog database (about 0.5%
complete at this writing) includes all the standard discographic
data as well as the cataloguing data (which milk crate it's in,
when I bought it, how much it cost me, etc.). The danger comes
when someone as knowledgeable discographically as yourself gets
assigned the task of cataloguing some new phonorecord acquisitions,
and has no idea where to find the data on the disc!

Steven C. Barr