CHAPTER VIII.

SUBJECT, TITLE, AND SERIES ENTRIES.

=75.=--The form of author-entry, or its equivalent, having been settled, the subject-entry now commands attention. The importance of the author-entry is recognised, but it is well known to librarians that, leaving fiction out of the question, most inquiries are made in libraries for books upon a particular subject, or for a special class of literature, rather than for the works of a particular writer, the people who know many authors not being so numerous as might be supposed. Therefore it is essential in all cataloguing work that the utmost attention be paid to the subjects. Every volume dealt with should be thoroughly examined for the purpose of ascertaining generally the nature of its contents, and definitely the subject or subjects of which it treats. This course should be pursued in every case, even if the subject is so clearly defined upon the title-page that to go beyond the statement there made would seem to be a sheer waste of time, otherwise the “pitfalls” that lie in the cataloguer’s way cannot be avoided. Besides, there may be some particularly valuable feature of the book hidden away in an appendix, or even a separate book bound up in the same cover, which the first title-page will not reveal.

=76.=--When the subject of the book has been clearly ascertained, an entry taken from the book itself or from the principal entry already written, is made under the name of the direct and definite _subject_ of the book, not under the class of literature to which it belongs or even the form in which it is written. It is of the first importance that the cataloguer should definitely decide the particular subject-name he will adopt in order to avoid the somewhat common blemish in catalogues of synonymous headings. Having so decided, it will prevent future mistakes if a cross-reference is immediately written and sorted into place with the first lot of slips alphabetized when it at once serves as a pointer in the right direction by preventing books upon a single subject being placed under two headings. Thus if the book in hand is

NEWTH, Samuel. A first book of natural philosophy. pp. viii., 136, illus. sm. 8o. 1867

and the cataloguer has decided in favour of the heading “Physics,” he will at once write a cross-reference

Natural philosophy. _See_ Physics.

which when put in its alphabetical sequence will point out if slips have been inadvertently written under “Natural Philosophy” that the chosen heading is “Physics,” and that the entries must be so altered and arranged. The subject-entry in this instance would be

Physics:

Newth, S. First book of natural philosophy. 1867

It will be here noted that under the subject-heading the author’s surname leads off as it directs to the principal entry where the fullest particulars concerning the book are to be found, and consequently it is most unusual to give the collation, size, and other information in all sub-entries. It is advisable, however, to give the date of publication in every entry excepting in the case of works of fiction under the circumstances referred to in paragraph 24.

=77.=--The forms of subject entries in dictionary catalogues can be much better shown by means of example with explanations than by statement alone, and for this reason a number of ordinary books, not selected for any difficulty they present, are given. These have been fully worked out in the dictionary system, and are accompanied in each case by the principal entry, so that the complete series of entries can be seen. The styles of types in printing commonly made use of to mark distinctions are also shown.

ABNEY, W. de W.

Colour measurement and mixture. (_Romance of science ser._) pp. 207, illus. sm. 8o. 1891

Colour.

Abney, W. de W. Colour measurement and mixture. 1891

Romance of Science series:

Abney, W. de W. Colour measurement and mixture. 1891

Science.

_See also_ Romance of science series.

It is an excellent rule to follow that a subject must have at least two books upon it before it is entitled to a “heading,” such as the second of the above entries has. In the event of the library possessing but this one book upon the subject by the time the “copy” has to be sent to the printer, it would then be reduced to title form, as

Colour measurement and mixture. Abney, W. de W. 1891

=78.=--The third entry is under the name of the series. Where space is a consideration, and only brief entries can be given, the cataloguer can omit either the name of the series from the principal entry and retain the entries under the title heading of the series, or he may reverse the process and leave out this third entry, as he may deem most expedient, but if possible both should be retained, as they afford useful information--in the first entry showing that the book is one of a particular series, and thereby giving some idea of its character and scope, indeed it would not be amiss for the same reason to include it in the second entry, and the third entry form furnishes a list of the books of this particular series in the library.

=79.=--BAILLON, Henry E. The natural history of plants; transl. by Marcus M. Hartog. Illus. 8v. la. 8o. 1871-88

This work should neither be placed under “Natural History” nor “Plants,” as some might suppose, as its subject is “Botany,” and the further entries would therefore be

Botany:

Baillon, H. E. The natural history of plants. 8v. 1871-88.

Plants. _See_ Botany.

HARTOG, Marcus M. (_Transl._) _See_ Baillon, H. E.

Besides the curtailment of information given in the principal entry already shown, the Christian names of authors are reduced to simple initials, and the names of translators and editors are omitted in all sub-entries. It is important to notice the difference between “_See_” and “_See also_” in cross-references; the first would prevent any entries being placed under the subject-heading where it is given, as already stated, but the second is intended to guide to lesser or closely-related divisions of the subject under which it appears. There may be a number of these _see alsos_ under a single heading by the time the catalogue is ready for printing, when they are to be embodied into one entry, as in the following illustration, where nine are so amalgamated

Botany.

_See also_ Algæ. Cryptogamia. Ferns. Flowers. Fungi. Grasses. Lichens. Mosses. Trees.

Of course, references of any kind must never be made in anticipation, but at the moment when the book to which they refer is being catalogued; otherwise a series of references will be the result that lead nowhere, as would be the case in the above example if the library had no books upon Algæ or the other subjects named.

=80.=--TAYLOR, Wm. (_of Norwich_). Historic survey of German poetry. 8 v. 8o. 1828-30

The subject-entries for a book such as this call for careful consideration. A title-entry under “Historic” is uncalled for, as the subject is clearly defined in the full title. But a choice of headings must be made under which the entries are to be given. The mind will waver between some of these:

German poetry.

Poetry, German.

German literature.

Literature, German.

Germany. (Sub-division Literature)

and upon a right decision hangs the usefulness and correctness of the catalogue, as it is possible that other entries will be affected by it later. An exact analysis shows that the book is specifically upon the first-named subject, but it is so clearly a part of the third-named as to be entitled to come under it in some form, either by way of entry or cross-reference. It is true that, if treated logically, the book has no absolute right of inclusion under a heading “German literature,” inasmuch as it only deals with poetical literature, but it may be taken for granted that a book with the title of “Historic survey of German prose” would be placed under such a heading without much questioning; and therefore, as concentration and convenience count for something, and are often of more moment than literal exactness, the entries might very well be

German literature.

Taylor, W. Historic survey of German poetry. 8 v. 1828-30.

German poetry. _See_ German Literature.

Catalogued in strict observance of rule, the entries would be

German poetry, Historic survey of. Taylor, W. 3 v. 1828-30

with a possible reference:

German literature.

_See also_ German poetry.

The second and fourth headings would not be chosen, for the reason that the book is neither upon “Poetry” nor “Literature” generally or in the abstract, and it is much better to reserve those headings for books of that nature or of a miscellaneous kind, putting books upon the literature of particular countries under their distinctive name. An inquirer wanting a book upon German literature is more likely to turn to “German” than to “Literature.” A general cross-reference will put the matter beyond possibility of mistake, as

Literature.

_See also the names of national literatures, as_ English, French, German, Greek, Latin.

=81.=--The fifth heading is merely another form of the third heading, but it is given among the rest because in the larger catalogues of reference libraries the whole of the books upon a particular country are often grouped together under the name of the country, these again being sub-divided for convenience of reference according to the number of entries under the heading, in divisions like these:

Antiquities, architecture, and art.

Description and social life.

Education.

History and politics.

Religion.

Miscellaneous.

=82.=--The next book coming under notice is

BOOTH, Wm. (_“General” of the Salvation Army_). In darkest England, and the way out. pp. 285, xxxi, frontis. la. 8o. [1890]

Whether a title-entry is needed is open to doubt, but as the title of the book is enigmatical it is safer to give one. The rule for all title-entries is to give them under the first word not an article, and it would accordingly be

In darkest England. Booth, W. [1890]

but the probability is that nine men out of ten would remember the book as “Darkest England,” and look for it under “Darkest,” and therefore it might be more useful if the entry were

Darkest England, In. Booth, W. [1890]

=83.=--The subject of the book requires that it be entered under whatever heading may be adopted for the social question, say

Poor and poor relief.

Booth, W. In darkest England. [1890]

No entry is called for under “England,” unless everything relating directly or indirectly to the home-country is to be brought together under that heading or “Great Britain.” If this is so, and it is to be faithfully and literally carried out, it will become so large as to need very elaborate sub-division, and even then, in the catalogue of a British library at anyrate, its extent will make it of little practical value. In large catalogues page after page would be filled to no great advantage, and therefore the best course to adopt is to make the entry under the exact subject, as shown, ignoring “England” if the book deals with the country generally and not a particular corner of it. By this plan a book upon the “Poor of Essex” would be entered both under “Essex” and “Poor,” but books like

Ruskin. The art of England.

Stephen. General view of the criminal law of England.

Hobkirk. British mosses.

Fairholt. Costume in England.

Oliphant. Literary history of England.

Green. Short history of the English people,

are sufficiently dealt with if, apart from the author-entry, they appear under “Art,” “Law,” “Mosses,” “Costume,” “English literature,” and “English history,” respectively, leaving the headings “England” and “Great Britain” for books _descriptive_ of the country generally and not some special aspect of it. As already shown, books upon even special features of _other countries_ should be entered under the name of the country. In most cases it is also desirable, even necessary, to enter under the subject likewise. Thus the double subject-entries of books, like

Griffis. The religions of Japan.

Perkins. Historical handbook of Italian sculpture.

Gray. Birds of the West of Scotland.

would be under “Japan” and “Religions,” “Italy” and “Sculpture,” and “Scotland” and “Birds.” If space cannot be afforded for both entries, judgment would then have to be exercised in making choice of the best single subject-heading, and it would be found that for the above the most useful are “Japan,” “Sculpture,” and “Birds.”

In catalogues of the larger libraries a heading like “Birds” would have so many items to it that it should be sub-divided to facilitate reference, first the books upon birds generally, followed by those upon the birds of particular countries or localities like that above-named upon the birds of the West of Scotland. The arrangement under the general division would be alphabetically by authors, but it has been found convenient to arrange the “local” by the name of the place, also alphabetically, after this manner

Birds.

_Countries and local._

Africa, South, Birds of. Layard, E. L.

Asia, Birds of. Gould, J.

British. Our rarer birds. Dixon, C.

History of British birds. Seebohm, H.

Scotland. Birds of the W. of Scotland. Gray, R.

=84.=--The desirability, or otherwise, of using scientific terms for subject-headings in catalogues is governed altogether by the people for whom the library is intended. In a library used by all classes of the community, the simpler and more widely known term is the best, and therefore “Birds” is preferable to “Ornithology,” “Fishes” to “Ichthyology,” and “Insects” to “Entomology.” In a library of a college or scientific institution the reverse method would possibly prove the best, but it is essential that perfect uniformity be maintained whatever form is decided upon, as it would be somewhat ridiculous to use scientific terms in some cases and popular names in others. The cross-reference comes in most usefully in any style of catalogue as it removes all doubt, thus

Ornithology. _See_ Birds.

Catalogues compiled upon very exact lines occasionally reserve the popular name for books of a popular or miscellaneous nature, and the scientific for those intended for the scientist, but the dividing line between the two classes of books cannot always be clearly seen, and it is much better to bring all together under the same heading, marking there any differences in the character of the books by means of sub-division.

In some few instances the use of the scientific term is unavoidable as there may be no popular name that meets the case. For example, it would not be correct to put a book upon the fresh-water algæ under a heading “Sea-weeds,” and a book upon the _tunicata_ cannot be put under any other name. The fact may be again emphasised that in a dictionary catalogue a book is entered under its _definite_ subject and never under its class or general subject. Thus a book like

White, W. F. Ants and their ways,

does not go under “Insects,” or even “Hymenoptera,” but directly under “Ants,” though such a book as

Lubbock, Sir John. Ants, bees, and wasps.

would be sufficiently entered in the catalogue of a scientific library, if placed under “Hymenoptera,” but in the catalogue of a popular library should go under all three names, “Ants,” “Bees,” and “Wasps,” just as a book like

Meyrick, E. British lepidoptera.

is better placed under “Butterflies” and “Moths” with a cross-reference

Lepidoptera. _See_ Butterflies. Moths.

It would be a waste of space, however, to enter a work so comprehensive in character as

Bath, W. H. Ants, bees, dragon-flies, earwigs, crickets and flies.

under each of these as, even though it omits the butterflies, moths, and beetles, it would be well enough dealt with if entered under “Insects.”

As it is a well-understood principle that a book must be entered under the exact subject of which it treats, so a work upon the natural history of animals while coming within the popular notion of “natural history,” and may be so called by its author, as

Lydekker, Richard (_Ed._) The royal natural history. Illus. 6 v. la. 8o. 1893-6

yet from the cataloguer’s standpoint it would not be altogether correct to enter it under “Natural History,” as that term is properly held to include the flora as well as fauna, and therefore the heading should be either “Zoology” or “Animals.” This last term is frequently reserved for books dealing only with animals, and apart from birds, reptiles, etc., and for books upon animals, not written from the naturalist’s point of view. Correctness is again ensured by cross-references, as

Natural history of animals. _See_ Zoology.

Animals, Natural history of. _See_ Zoology.

=85.=--The next books are selected for the purpose of showing the difference in treatment of works similar in character:

Milman, Henry H., _Dean_. Annals of S. Paul’s Cathedral. 2nd ed. pp. xiv, 540, ports., illus. 8o. 1869

Loftie, W. J. Kensington Palace, pp. 76, illus. 8o. 1898

Hiatt, Charles. The Cathedral Church of Chester. (_Bell’s Cathedral ser._) pp. viii, 96, illus. sm. 8o. 1897

Routledge, C. F. The Church of St. Martin, Canterbury. pp. 101, illus. sm. 8o. 1898

Those upon buildings of a more national than local character situated in London are entered under the name of the buildings and not the locality, as

St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Milman, H. H. Annals of S. Paul’s Cathedral. 1869

unless the locality is embodied in the title as

Kensington Palace. Loftie, W. J. 1898

Neither of these books should be placed under a heading “London,” but a cross-reference may be given:

London.

_See also the names of buildings, as_ Kensington Palace, St. Paul’s Cathedral.

The other books should lead off with the name of the place where the building is situated, though not entered under the place-heading, as they are not books upon Chester or Canterbury. Therefore the form is

Chester, The Cathedral Church of. Hiatt, C. 1897

Canterbury, The Church of St. Martin. Routledge, C. F. 1898

or in shorter fashion:

Chester Cathedral. Hiatt, C. 1897

Canterbury, St. Martin’s Church. Routledge, C. F. 1898

Upon the same principle a history of a London parish is not entered under “London,” but under its particular name with a cross-reference from London to the places, as

London.

_See also the names of parishes, as_ Chelsea, Kensington, Southwark, Westminster.

Monographs upon buildings of national importance in foreign countries are however always entered under the name of the city where situated and not under the name of the building. Works upon St. Mark’s, Venice, or Notre Dame de Paris being entered under Venice and Paris respectively, as

Venice, St. Mark’s.

Paris, Notre Dame.

To give heed to details of this kind is not “hair-splitting,” as the novice may be disposed to imagine--it is the very essence of good cataloguing. Even with most careful attention the cataloguer may well congratulate himself if at the conclusion of his work, and especially when in print, it comes out faultless, because the perfect catalogue absolutely free from error has not yet been seen.