Series authority records (SARs) are created by catalogers to document bibliographic research (and avoid duplication of such research), collocate titles that are different but related, and distinguish among titles that are similar but distinct. They are especially helpful for works in Hebrew and other non-Western languages, where multiple orthographies and transliteration schemes make it harder for libraries to identify series and share records, and therefore more difficult for readers to find what they need. While many libraries contribute SARs to the National Authority File (our shared pool of authority records), none contributes as many as the Library of Congress (LC). There was much hand wringing, therefore, when LC announced that it would discontinue creating SARs effective June 1, 2006. The AJL Research libraries, Archives, and Special Collections (RAS) Cataloging Committee--together with the AJL Executive Board--issued a letter of concern to LC asserting that, while it was reasonable for LC to act according to its perceived best interests, it was also expected that a national library (de facto if not necessarily de jure) would have consulted more closely with other affected parties. It used to be that LC records could be imported into our local systems without special editing. Now these same records must be reviewed and revised every time series authority control is needed, slowing down our library workflows considerably.
The RAS Cataloging Committee has also been concerned by the announced closing of the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book project. Some 90% of all known Hebrew titles published between 1470 and 1960 had been documented thus far, and it seemed unfortunate that the remaining 10% should be allowed to fall by the wayside. The Bibliography is particularly useful to catalogers because each record was created with the item in hand (ensuring a high level of accuracy), and because it includes an index of approbation authors, which helps identify books with missing title pages. The Committee drafted a letter in support of two additional years of funding needed for the project's completion.
As some readers of this newsletter know, the Anglo-American Cataloging Rules, 2nd ed. (AACR2), is slated to be replaced by Resource Description and Access (RDA) within the next few years. As you can see even from the name change (i.e., the term "Anglo-American" has been dropped), the new cataloging code aims to be more international and multicultural in scope. Along these lines, a proposal submitted by LC would create additional options for Bible headings. For example, the uniform title "Tanakh" would be authorized for use alongside "Bible. Old Testament." The AJL RAS Cataloging Committee was one of several groups asked to review this proposal. While we appreciated the move toward greater cultural sensitivity and inclusiveness, we recommended holding off on implementation until a more sophisticated system of alternative headings becomes available. Otherwise, we feared, multiple naming and re-arrangement of Biblical literature could disorganize our collections.