A brief summary of the Executive Summary of the Final Report (Penultimate Draft) of the Task Force on the Harmonization of ISBD(ER) and AACR2

prepared by John Attig

June 23, 1999

This is a simple summary of what is currently in the "Executive Summary" document. The Task Force members have already noted a need to discuss and revisit many of the issues in the document before presenting it as a recommendation to CC:DA.

The Task Force is considering the following changes to AACR2R:

Chapter 1. General Rules for Description

deletion of the phrase "unpublished computer files" from 1.4C8, 1.4D9 and 1.4F9 on the grounds that (following the suggestion of the OCLC Internet Cataloging Project) it makes pragmatic sense to consider all electronic resources to be published.
addition of an example to 1.4D6

Chapter 9, Area 2. Edition Area

A. Definition of Edition

revisions to 9.2B1, 9.2B2, 9.2B3 and 9.2B4 to make a distinction between major and minor changes to an electronic resource (only the former would be considered a new edition)
addition of examples to the above rules and to 9.7B7 Edition and history [note]

B. Multiple Edition Statements

add a new rule to cover the case in an item consisting of multiple carriers has different edition statements on different carrier
add a new rule to deal with electronic resources that are frequently updated [there is a similar rule in Chapter 12, and in chapter 9, the scope of this new rule seems to be what Jean Hirons' report calls integrating resources]

Chapter 9, Area 3. Resource Characteristics

still under consideration is a suggestion from the British Library to use the term "Type and Extent of Resource Area" instead of "Resource Characteristics"
adds some prescribed punctuation to 9.3A1
changes "computer" to "electronic" throughout 9.3
adds the option to give a more specific type of resource (more specific than "electronic data" or "electronic program"); there is an extensive,
3-level hierarchy of resource types, taken from an appendix to ISBD(ER)

Chapter 9, Area 4. Publication, Distribution, Etc. Area

A. Definition of "Published"

adds a new rule 9.4B2 which states "Consider all ... electronic resources to be published."

B. Edition Statements and Dates for Dynamic Resources

adds a new rule to 9.2B that instructs to give edition information for remote access materials in a note, NOT in area 2.
revised 9.4F3 to cover resources whose "date of publication" frequently changes; the instruction is to give the date on which the resource was described in a note; and an example of such a note is to be added to 9.7B7 and 9.7B20 (Note on copy being described)

C. Multiple copyright dates

adds a new rule 9.4F4 to cover the case of multiple dates applying to different aspects of production, none of which applies to the publication of the item as a whole

Chapter 9, Area 5. Physical Description Area

A. 9.5A

adds a new rule 9.5A2 covering items with different types and/or sizes of carrier and proposing similar alternatives to those now in 1.10

B. 9.5B. SMD

changes the term "computer" to "electronic" in SMDs for types of physical carriers, e.g., electronic disk, electronic tape reel
adds examples for new types of optical discs (Photo CD, CD-I)

C. 9.5C. Format Characteristics

+ revises 9.5C1 to allow the indication of sound or color "if the resource is specified ... or is known to produce ..." sound or color display
+ revises 9.5C2 to (I think) make the list of characteristics examplary, not a closed list

D. 9.5D. Dimensions

+ adds optional provisions to 9.5D1 to allow the recording of dimensions in metric units
+ deletes section e) of 9.5D1, which was an escape clause for "other carriers"

E. 9.5E. Accompanying material

changes the term "computer" to "electronic" [the same change was included in all the other parts of 9.5; I just didn't bother to list them all]

Chapter 9, Area 7. Note Area

A. System Requirements and Mode of Access Notes

+ rearranges the order in which the notes of primary importance are to be given; the current order is (1) nature and scope; (2) system requirements; (3) mode of access; the proposal is to move Nature and scope to the end of that list.
+ additional examples for system requirements and mode of access notes

B. Other notes

adds examples to
- 9.7B2 (Language and script),
- 9.7B4 (Variations in title),
- 9.7B5 (Parallel titles and other title information);
- 9.7B6 (Statements of responsibility),
- 9.7B7 (Edition and history),
- 9.7B8 (File characteristics),
- 9.7B9 (Publication, distribution, etc. area),
- 9.7B11 (Accompanying material),
- 9.7B16 (Other formats),
- 9.7B17 (Summary),
- 9.7B20 (Copy being described ...)
adds additional instructions to 9.7B6 on types of statements of responsibility that might be given in a note

Appendix D, Glossary

consider making substantial additions to the AACR2 glossary of terms defined in ISBD(ER)
consider revising some present definitions
consider how to deal with terms that have contradictory definitions in the two documents
consider adding definitions of SMDs and specific resource types (9.3) to the glossary

Members of the Task Force

John C. Attig
Matthew Beacom
Ann Sandberg-Fox
Lynne C. Howarth (Chair)
Laurel Jizba
Mary L. Larsgaard
Patricia Vanderberg
Matthew Wise