[MinervaCats] Minerva Cataloging Standards Committee RE: 520 Note

[Katherine R. Morgan]

Hi Everyone

    At the beginning of July there was a debate about the proper use  
of the 520 sumamry note. On July 20 Catalogers' User's Meeting this  
issue was on the agenda, and it was also discussed at the Cataloging  
Standards Meeting that same day. Below you will find the results of  
the discussions.


At the recent Minerva Cataloging Users meeting on July 20, 2007, a  
review of the correct use of the 520 field in bibliographic records  
was presented.  The Minerva cataloging manual found online at  
http://www.maine.gov/infonet/minerva/cataloging/manual/ch10.htm#marc520  
defines the summary as follows:  ?This is a brief, objective  
description given in one or two sentences that could be a summary,  
abstract, annotation, review or a phrase describing the material. The  
summary should never contain an expression of opinion or criticism of  
an item. This should be kept in mind when using information taken from  
a container or book jacket.?  At past meetings and workshops, and in  
various Minerva publications, a limit of 25 words or less has been  
suggested as a guideline to follow when writing summaries.

   Prior to and during the latest meeting a discussion among Minerva  
catalogers took place, in which catalogers representing a small number  
of libraries expressed concerns that the current policy is too  
restrictive.  They felt that the guideline of 25 words or less was  
especially a problem for them, feeling that their patrons are better  
served by longer, more descriptive summaries.  A packet of materials  
supporting this position was prepared by Barbara Bartley and was  
presented at the meeting by David Smith, both from Lunder Library at  
KVCC.  All catalogers present at this meeting were invited to express  
their opinions regarding this issue.

In response to this discussion, the Cataloging Standards Committee  
agreed to review the topic of summaries at their meeting that followed  
the Users Group meeting.  While evaluating the current Minerva policy,  
the factors that follow were taken into consideration.

The AACR2 Rule 2.7B17 for summarizing printed monographs states the  
following:  ?Give a brief objective summary of the content of an item  
unless another part of the description provides enough information."   
The wording of Rule 7.7B17 regarding summaries of videorecordings is  
identical.

The Library of Congress interpretation of this rule (LCRI) states:   
?1. Make a concise statement, mentioning only major points of the  
contents.  Phrases, rather than sentences, may be used when clarity  
and good taste permit.  2.  Include objective statements only,  
avoiding any explicit or implicit evaluation of the contents from any  
point of view.  If it is the contents of the work that show a bias,  
which it is important for the subject note to bring out, word the note  
carefully so that it is clear the author?s bias, not the cataloger?s,  
is the one being related.?

Neither of these sources actually defines the words ?brief? and  
?concise?.  However, the following definitions are found in  
Merriam-Webster?s online dictionary.
Brief:  ?1 : short in duration, extent, or length ; 2 a : CONCISE?
Concise:  ?marked by brevity of expression or statement : free from  
all elaboration and superfluous detail <a concise summary>?

	In consideration of the objections to a limit of 25 words, the  
Minerva Cataloging Standards Committee agreed that the guideline for  
length will be expanded to 50 words.  This will allow the addition of  
more descriptive information to a summary.  However, based on the  
committee?s interpretation of the rules stated above, the committee  
believes that it is appropriate to uphold the rest of the previously  
defined standards for adding summaries to bibliographic records.  When  
adding a summary to a record, superlatives should be avoided.  The  
summary should be a note that provides an objective statement of an  
item?s contents and scope rather than a detailed plot review or  
analysis.

Minerva Cataloging Standards Committee:
Katherine Morgan, Norway Memorial Library, Chair
Carin Dunay, SMCC
Deborah Buker, Baxter Memorial Library
Ellen Conway, Falmouth Memorial Library
Valerie Okrent, CMCC
Ann Russell, Lithgow Library
Charlotte Spear, South Portland Library
Bonnie Collins & Deborah Hensler, Maine InfoNet (ex-officio)











Katherine R. Morgan
Norway Memorial Library
207-743-5309