CHAPTER IX.

SUBJECT, TITLE, AND SERIES ENTRIES (_continued_).

=86.=--There remain other varieties of double or treble entries to consider. A book such as

BAKER, W. R.

Intemperance the idolatry of Britain. 3rd ed. pp. 62. sm. 8o. n.d.

has no appearance of difficulty, as it is so obviously upon intemperance, but the question of concentration of books _pro_ and _con_ upon such a subject as this must be looked into. It is most undesirable to send an inquirer to a number of headings to find all the books upon the “drink question.” To effectively group them together, developes the heading into a class rather than subject, but even so, it has more justification than the grouping of say “Natural history” would have, because it is more distinctly a single subject regarded from several standpoints, and while “temperance” cannot be “intemperance,” yet to bring the two aspects of the question together adds more to the utility of the catalogue than to separate books with these words upon their title-pages under different headings. In looking into this matter, the subject was followed up in a good catalogue compiled upon strictly orthodox lines, and was found up and down under headings like Alcohol, Drink, Inebriety, Teetotalism, Temperance, Total Abstinence, Licensed Victuallers, Public Houses, Sunday Drinking. Most of the books under these various headings might have been brought together with advantage under a general term-heading like “Drink question,” with cross-references from the other topics to bind the whole together beyond possibility of mistake. There are other questions that admit of concentration in this way, as for example books upon Free Trade, Fair Trade, Reciprocity, and Protection can all safely be entered under “Free Trade” with references from the others.

Some books, on the other hand, must have several entries, as

Ruddock, E. H. Modern medicine and surgery on homœopathic principles. 1874

requires three entries, viz., under “Medicine,” “Surgery,” “Homœopathy.” The only method of avoiding this would be to enter the book under “Homœopathy,” with cross-references from the other headings, as

Medicine. _See also_ Homœopathy.

In a small general library it would be possible to bring together all books upon subjects so closely allied as medicine and surgery under that heading, with a cross-reference,

Surgery. _See also_ Medicine and surgery.

Another example of a book needing several entries, is

Garner, R. L. Gorillas and chimpanzees.

As this is not a work upon Monkeys generally, or even upon Apes, the correct procedure is to enter it under “Gorillas” and “Chimpanzees” respectively, as

Gorillas.

Garner, R. L. Gorillas and chimpanzees.

In a small library there would most likely be other books upon Gorillas, but hardly a second upon Chimpanzees, therefore the second entry would be

Chimpanzees, Gorillas and. Garner, R. L.

To bring this book fully under the notice of those interested in the monkey tribe cross-references are necessary. Presuming that there were already entries under “Monkeys” (generally) and “Apes” (particularly), then all the entries would be bound together by

Monkeys.

_See also_ Apes.

Apes.

_See also_ Gorillas.

No cross-reference being called for to “Chimpanzees,” as they are included in the title of the book under “Gorillas.” In the event, however, of there being a second book upon Chimpanzees, then the cross-reference becomes

Apes.

_See also_ Chimpanzees. Gorillas.

=87.=--At the risk of repetition, and to make the matter clear, it may be again stated that a book must not be entered under every important word appearing upon its title-page. There is much rule-of-thumb cataloguing done that would cause a book like

Ihering, Rudolph von. The evolution of the Aryan,

to be entered under “Evolution,” whereas not even a title-entry under the word “evolution” is required, and the single subject-entry is

Aryans, The

Ihering, R. von. The evolution of the Aryan.

It may be considered unnecessary advice to say that a book so unmistakably upon the Aryan peoples should not be put under “Evolution,” when the accepted meaning of that term as a subject has nothing to do with it, yet there are catalogues at present in force of important town libraries with much worse forms. One has a heading “Natural history,” under which there are sixteen items that include such diverse matters as “Natural method of curing diseases,” “Natural theology,” “Natural philosophy,” “Nature and art,” “Drawing from nature,” because the word “natural” or “nature” happened to occur in the titles of the books. Another has a heading “School, Schoolmasters, and Schools,” which includes Molière’s “School for wives” and his “School for husbands.” Any number of examples equally ridiculous could be quoted from present-day catalogues to prove the contention that this is a common form of error. Therefore the advice to “get at the subject of the book, and never mind the particular words used on the title-page,” cannot be too often impressed upon the cataloguer.

=88.=--Books in a number of languages dealing with a single subject must all be entered under the English name for that subject. Books like

Kohlrausch, F. Kurze Darstellung der deutschen Geschichte. 1864

Green, S. G. Pictures from the German fatherland. n.d.

Breton, J. Notes d’un étudiant français en Allemagne. 1895

are to be found entered in a catalogue under Deutschen, Germany, and Allemagne, without a single binding reference. Another has books upon the United States under America, États-Unis, and United States. In one catalogue there is a reference in the following form:

États-Unis--_see_ L’Univers,

which is most flattering to our American cousins. In this connection it should be observed that references of this kind are quite wrong. In the first place there is no occasion for a reference or entry of any kind under “États-Unis” in an English catalogue, and in the second the principle of referring from a lesser to a greater subject is incorrect; the reference must always be from a greater to a lesser. In the same catalogue there are numbers of references from subjects to authors, which are also wrong in principle, as a reference should never be given in this form:

Indigestion. _See_ Douglas (Dr. Jas.),

or its reverse, equally erroneous:

Duncan, Dr. Andrew. _See_ Consumption,

otherwise the curious humour of references of this kind will soon show itself. In both cases entries were required and not references. Therefore the only references to be used are

(1) Subject to subject (connected or synonymous only).

(2) Greater subject to lesser division of the same subject.

(3) Author to author (joint-authors).

(4) Translator, editor, or compiler to author.

(5) Translator, editor, or compiler to title not containing the name of an author or not treated as author (as editor of a series).

=89.=--The next illustration is

GARNETT, Richard.

Life of Ralph Waldo Emerson. (_Great writers._) pp. 300, xiv. sm. 8o. 1888

With a bibliography by John P. Anderson.

No entry is needed under the word “Life,” or under “Biographies,” as that is a class-heading and not a subject, and the book goes under the name of its direct subject, making a heading of it, as the library will contain Emerson’s works as well as other biographies of him, as

Emerson, Ralph W.

Garnett, R. Life of Ralph Waldo Emerson. (_Great writers._) 1888

An entry is required under the name of the series, and to be strictly accurate the name of the author should lead, as

Great writers; ed. by Eric S. Robertson.

(_Note_:--Each volume contains a bibliography of the subject by John P. Anderson.)

Garnett, R. Life of Ralph Waldo Emerson. 1888

though it will be found more useful in the case of a series of a biographical nature to lead off with the subject, instead of the author, as

Great writers:

Emerson, Ralph Waldo, by R. Garnett. 1888

References to complete the matter fully may be given as

Robertson, Eric S. (_Ed._) _See_ Great writers (series).

Anderson, John P. _See_ Great writers (series).

In case of series like the Bampton, Hulsean, and Hibbert Lectures, the most convenient method is to arrange them in chronological order of the delivery of the lectures (not the date of publication) after this style:

Bampton Lectures:

1876. Alexander. The witness of the Psalms to Christ and Christianity. 1877

1880. Hatch. The organization of the early Christian churches. 1888

1891. Gore. The incarnation. 1891

The question is raised now and then as to whether it is worth while giving the list of works forming a series under the first word, other than an article, of the title of the series instead of under some other leading word. There is no occasion to lay down a hard and fast rule in the matter, but all things considered, it will be found safer to treat all series in the manner indicated and to enter them uniformly under this first word as Great artists, Great writers, Story of the nations, Leaders of religion, International scientific series, under “Great,” “Story,” “Leaders,” and “International” respectively rather than under “Artists,” “Writers,” “Nations,” “Religion,” or “Scientific.” The fact cannot be overlooked that the entry is only given because it is a series-entry and not as a make-shift form of subject-entry, and for this very reason it would be as erroneous to enter all the series of “Great artists” under the subject-heading “Artists” as to put the “Leaders of religion” under “Religion.” The difficulty is fully met by cross-references where required, as

Science. _See also_ International scientific series.

Authors. _See also_ Great writers (series).

Scots, Famous (series). _See_ Famous Scots.

If the series-entry is to be converted into a semi-subject entry, it should be by the simple transposition of the title of the series and then kept altogether apart from the subject-heading.

In a library catalogue, as distinct from a bookseller’s, it is only those series of a special and limited character that receive entries under the names of the series, and this form should not be extended so as to include long lists of books in series under publisher’s names, as Weale’s series, Pitt Press series, Macmillan’s Manuals for students. Where very full information is given, these names may be added to the principal entry and not carried further.

=90.=--Already it has been stated that in many libraries it is of the utmost importance that a catalogue should be compiled with short entries and within narrow limits so as to reduce both the size and the cost of production. To do this judiciously does not interfere in the least with the principles of good and adequate cataloguing, care only being required in curtailing the entries so as not to lose their correct character. The majority of readers in popular libraries are little concerned with precise bibliographical information provided they get a list of the books by the author, or upon the subject they want. The title of Dr. Garnett’s book mentioned above can, for example, be shortened into entries like these:--

Garnett, Richard. Life of Ralph W. Emerson. 1888

Emerson, Ralph W.

Garnett, R. Life of Emerson 1888

Great writers:

Emerson, by R. Garnett. 1888

The references from Robertson and Anderson can be dispensed with. Shorter entries than the foregoing would not be looked for, and would be worthless. Very brief entries imply little or no information, as witness the following _complete_ entries from the catalogue of a large library:

“Church’s Lament.”

Conspiracy. Ritualistic.

Workhouse. Union. Bowen.

=91.=--The next illustration is taken to further show the method of regarding a book for its subject-entry:

SAINTSBURY, George.

A history of Elizabethan literature. 1887

This is neither a book upon literature generally nor in the abstract, nor upon English literature as a whole, but only upon a particular period of it. Such a book could very properly be placed under “Elizabethan literature” with a reference from “English literature.” It might even go under the name of Elizabeth where all books pertaining to her reign in every particular could be gathered, but this is not so satisfactory. After all the most useful place for a book of this kind would be under “English literature,” and its inclusion could be better justified if the books under such a heading were sub-divided, if sufficient in number, into periods arranged chronologically as a heading like “English History” is often usefully divided. This would necessitate a cross-reference like

Elizabethan literature. _See_ English literature.

To further illustrate this point it may be said that a book like

BREWER, J. S.

The reign of Henry VIII. 2 v. 8o. 1884

is better treated in the reverse way and entered under the name of the monarch, in common with other books of a strictly historical nature dealing with a particular reign. In the first case the book is thought to be more usefully catalogued as a contribution to the larger subject of “English literature,” and in the second the book is looked upon as being more particularly concerned with Henry VIII. than with “English history”--hence the difference in the treatment. In this last instance the safe-guarding cross-reference is

English History.

_For the histories of particular reigns see under the names of monarchs, as_ Charles I., Henry VIII., Victoria.

=92.=--The following group is given (in brief form) in order to show the difference of treatment of books apparently alike in subject:

Farrar, F. W., _Dean_ (_Ed._) With the poets.

James, Henry. French poets and novelists.

Johnson, Samuel. Lives of the English poets.

Keats, John. Poetical works.

Shairp, J. C. Aspects of poetry.

Sharp, Wm. Life of Shelley.

Tennyson, Lord. Demeter and other poems.

The first entry would be placed under a heading “Poems,” because it is an anthology. This heading “Poems” should be reserved for collections of miscellaneous poems by many authors and would not include a book like the Keats, which should be entered under the name of the author only. It does not require any entry under “Poetical works,” as that is simply a form, and can no more be justified than a heading “Prose works” could be. If, however, the book has a definite title, like the Tennyson, then a title-entry must be given as

Demeter and other poems. Tennyson, Lord.

Librarians sometimes consider it necessary to give a series of references under the heading “Poems” or “Poetry” to the names of the authors represented in the catalogue, but this is on an equality with the practice of grouping all the fiction under a heading “Novels.” These being class-headings are not strictly accurate but, no doubt, are a convenience to a section of readers. So much cannot be said for all such grouping in a dictionary catalogue, and it is better to avoid it if possible. A catalogue of a very important library has a heading “Essays,” under which an attempt has been made to enter all books written in the form of essays, as well as with the word “essay” upon the title-pages, and the result is a mere jumble of titles, absolutely useless, including as it does works so widely apart in character as Baring Gould’s _Old country life_, Barrie’s _Auld licht idylls_, Doran’s _In and about Drury Lane_, and Lang’s _Books and bookmen_. To attempt this in a classified catalogue would be bad enough, but in a dictionary catalogue it shows that the first principles governing its compilation are wholly misunderstood.

The book by Henry James would be fitly placed under “French literature” and the words “poets” and “novelists” ignored. Dr. Johnson’s book should go under “Poets,” together with any other lives of poets in collected form, but the life of an individual poet, like that of Shelley, would not be so entered, as lives of individuals are entered under their names, and not under the class to which they belong. Shairp’s book being upon “Poetry” in the abstract would accordingly go under that heading, as would any book of a miscellaneous character upon poetry which could not well be placed under a more definite subject-heading.

=93.=--Sometimes in the case of biographies it will be found unnecessary to give both author and subject-entries because the biographies are written or edited by a son or other relative bearing the same name, and accordingly both entries come together in the catalogue, therefore, while it is quite correct to give both entries, yet one suffices. If the single entry is adopted it is better to make choice of the subject for the entry, not the author, as

Stokes, William: his life and works, 1804-1878, by his son [Sir] Wm. Stokes. (_Masters of medicine._) 1898

=94.=--Volumes of sermons are dealt with in the same manner as poetical works, avoiding, as far as possible, an entry under the form “Sermons.” An illustration is

Kingsley, Charles. All Saints’ Day, and other sermons. 1890

⸻ The gospel of the Pentateuch: sermons. 1890

⸻ Sermons on national subjects. 2v. 1872

⸻ Sermons for the times. 1890

⸻ Village sermons. 1890

The first and last of these simply require title-entries, as

All Saints’ Day, and other sermons. Kingsley, C. 1890

Village sermons. Kingsley, C. 1890

The second, instead of receiving a title-entry, is better placed as a contribution to its subject, as

Pentateuch, The.

Kingsley, C. The gospel of the Pentateuch: sermons. 1890

The third and fourth will also require title-entries unless there happens to be a general reference under the word, “Sermons,” after this fashion

Sermons. _For volumes of sermons with specific titles or upon definite subjects see those titles and subjects. Books with the general title of sermons will be found under the names of the following authors_:

(Here follows a list of the names, including Kingsley.)

If this form is not considered suitable then there is no alternative but to give title-entries, because a heading cannot be correctly made. The form then is:

Sermons. Le Bas, C. W. 2 v. 1828

Sermons for the times. Kingsley, C. 1890

Sermons in the East. Stanley, A. P. 1863

Sermons on national subjects. Kingsley, C. 2v. 1872

The arrangement is alphabetically by the words of the titles as in the case of any other title-entries, and not by the names of the authors.

=95.=--Dramas, Dramatic Works, are also forms calling for similar treatment to Poems, Essays, or Sermons. Collections of letters by individuals are simply entered under the names of the writers with references from the editors.

=96.=--There is a form of entry occasionally seen in catalogues that is so obviously absurd that it scarcely needs to be more than referred to, viz., a heading “Pamphlets.” Here, presumably, all the thin or unbound books in a library are entered. Under an arrangement of this description, work should be facilitated, as but two headings would be requisite--one “Books” and the other “Pamphlets”--the dividing line between the two to be fixed by the number of pages.

Almost in a line with such a ridiculous heading is the lazy cataloguer’s method of taking volumes consisting of a number of pamphlets bound together, whether upon the self-same subject or as many different subjects as there are pamphlets in the volumes, and lumping them with entries like these:

Miscellaneous pamphlets. v.d.

Pamphlets, Miscellaneous. 37 v. v.d.

Sermons, Miscellaneous. v.d.

Political pamphlets. v.d.

Of course, each pamphlet must be dealt with in precisely the same way as if it were a separate book, the fact that it is a thin book not entering into the question, unless it happens to be of so very trifling or ephemeral a character as to be unworthy of an entry, when it should either be withdrawn from the library (unless the fact of its being bound up with others prevents) or properly catalogued.

=97.=--The prolix titles of many pamphlets, especially the polemical tracts of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, often need abbreviation. For example:

The succession of Solomon to the throne of David consider’d in a sermon on the occasion of the sudden death of His Majesty King George I., June 18, 1727, by Thomas Bradbury. 2nd ed. 1727

may very well be cut down to

Bradbury, Thomas. Sermon on the death of George I. 1727

and

An ordinance of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, together with rules and directions concerning suspention from the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper in cases of ignorance and scandall; also the names of such ministers and others that are appointed triers and judges of the ability of elders within the province of London. 1645

may be safely curtailed in most cases to

Lord’s Supper. An ordinance of Parliament, with rules and directions concerning suspention from the sacrament. pp. ii., 14. sm. 4o. 1645

Pamphlets are frequently collected and stored in libraries for some special reason--perhaps because they are of local interest--when this fact should be brought out in the catalogue. Accordingly a pamphlet entitled

A sermon preached in Chelsea Church at the funeral of the Hon. Mrs. Elizabeth Roberts, by Thomas Knaggs. 1710

would be entered under

Chelsea Church, Sermon preached in, at the funeral of the Hon. Mrs. Eliz. Roberts. Knaggs, T. 1710

this entry being additional to that under “Knaggs” and another under “Roberts,” if the person happened to be of some local importance in her day.