what’s a cataloger to do?
When Art and Books Collide
Supervisor (1 faculty, 3 staff, plus students)Catalog or review cataloging of all other
materials for the Fine Arts Library:Monographs: music, art, theater, danceAudio visual media: sound, video, etc.Artists’ books
Other faculty responsibilities:ServiceResearchProfessional Development
Besides cataloging music …
What is an Artists’ Book?An Artists’ Book is a book made by an artist that has a visual impact, whether it is through the overall design, the typography, the pictures within, or the binding. The books are usually produced with painstaking care in very limited editions, or as unique examples.
-Meg Shaw, former Art Librarian,
UK Libraries
Little Pink
Houses by
Maryann Riker
Sculptural book,
Jacob’s Ladder
hinge binding,
includes found
objects
Samples
O is for Opera by Jim Machacek (edition of 45)
Samples: incorporating music
Fish in the Sky
OH MY! By Mary
Rezny
A “sculptural
star book”
Limited edition
of 100.
Samples: Local artist
Cataloged on a book formatEven when 3-dimensional
Notes!Where title obtained fromMaterials usedTechniques used
Call numberN7433.4
Subject HeadingsArtists’ books (with subdivisions)At least one other
Cataloging Basics: It’s still a book
Cataloging ChallengesTitle
Often not on itemArtist’s name
Sometimes not on item
DateMost likely not on
itemPublishing info
Usually not on itemMost are self-
published
The Inundation of the Spring by Maryann Riker
Finding a title pageAACR2: Chief Source of Information, 2.0B1RDA: Sources of Information, rules under 2.2
Cataloging Challenges
Accompanying papers, invoices, etc.The artist’s websiteWebsite for distributors
Where to find information
AACR2First ones I
catalogedChief Source of info?Titles in brackets,
often“1 v. (unpaged)”
didn’t always fitNever felt satisfied
by the descriptionMost of it in notes
Currently usingSources of InfoNo brackets around
titles“1 object” is much
better33x fields help fill
out description
AACR2 vs. RDA
RDA
•Title came from
artist’s website
•Wasn’t much of
a title, more of a
description
•Notes describe
item and
materials used
•I use “… in art”
a lot for subject
headings
Sample RDA Record
•Same artist,
same issue with
title
•Notes are
interesting, lots
of different
materials used
•This is a unique
book
Sample RDA Record
This one came
with an
instruction card
describing how
to use the item.
See 520 note.
A Book with Instructions
•3 objects
•Added a 505
Contents note
•Description from
artist in a 500
Note field
Multiple parts
Numbered BoxesPublic note in holding record
“In locked stacks, box x”Closed StacksStick slips containing
Barcode Call number Title Box number
Logistical Issues: Housing
Lined up on the Shelves
Boxes Some contain author names/call numbers
Top of a Box
More Boxes
Stick Slip
Meeting John Jacob Niles
Unique Item made for Library
Working Dulcimer
Book inside the Dulcimer
Unique item made for Library
Close up
Kerri Baunach
More on Artists’ Books at UK: http://libguides.uky.edu/artistsbooks
Thank you!