CCO in Libraries What’s in It for Us? CCO Boot Camp, ALCTS Preconference ALA New Orleans, Friday, June 23, 2006 Maria Oldal Head of Cataloging and Database Maintenance Pierpont Morgan Library The Pierpont Morgan Library

Objects in Libraries Some are genuine works of art –portraits or busts of founders, patrons –art objects acquired with personal papers or libraries –artwork gifted or acquired for decorative purposes But most objects fall outside the scope of museum collections –cultural objects associated with the library’s collections –printing plates, woodblocks, etc. –cultural objects acquired with personal papers or libraries –unpredictable odds and ends Most libraries have a few objects in their collections.

Library Treatment of Objects Objects are considered outside the scope of library collections. objects are mostly undocumented (ask the simple “how many” question) they remain outside the main cataloging flow they present a challenge to library catalogers

AACR - general chapter - special format chapters Special Material Cataloging Manuals Descriptive Cataloging of Rare Books (dcrb) Betz, E.W. Graphic Materials (gihc) Describing Archives (dacs) Manual of Map Library Classification and Cataloguing (mmlcc) etc. Cataloging Manuals – So Many of Them …

Special Material Cataloging Manuals are add-ons to AACR leave “access” part to AACR take MARC for granted Most of them … Others, e.g. Describing Archives (dacs) move away from AACR refer back to “access” part of AACR work with other data formats, e.g. EAD

AACR Chapter 10 Three-Dimensional Artefacts and Realia no special format cataloging manual But Wait, There’s More … Is CCO the answer?

Cataloging Cultural Objects did not originate in the library community was developed independently from other data content standards provides for display as well as indexing forms includes chapters on authorities is data format independent

MARC AACR, etc.CCO published printed language material etc. unpublished created objects etc. Possible Model for Library Cataloging

continues to be the most widely used data format standard in libraries data format and communications standard was designed for and works best with AACR has the potential to accommodate other data content standards current generation of IOLS design is based on MARC records can be easily migrated or shared MARC

Work Type central role in object description focus is on the concrete object the carrier is a large part of the content unlimited choice of terms singular form of terms teapot sculpture bell painting

no concept of transcription title often coincides with work type –e.g. earthenware, jewelry, etc. fluidity of title –e.g. changes in iconographic interpretation: Portrait of a Man vs Portrait of a Moor Roman Feast vs First Passover multiple titles with their sources no concept of uniform title Title

Creator & Creator Role display and indexing forms of creator names –John Singer Sargent vs Sargent, John Singer includes school and biographical information –John Singer Sargent (American; Florence London) role of creator multiple creators and their roles

Creator & Creator Role uncertainty or changes in attribution –alternatively attributed to; possibly; formerly attributed to unknown creators –unknown French artist anonymous artist qualifiers –school of; workshop of; follower of wider range of source of information than just the object

Physical Characteristics emphasis on materials and techniques complex structures parts and all their dimensions precise measurements measurement practices of various fields

Stylistic & Chronological Information culture of creator rather than place of creation concept of school concept of style uncertain and approximate dates provisions for BCE dates

Location & Geography elaborate system of locations –Creation Location –Discovery Location –Current Location –Former Location display and indexing forms holding institution and item identifier provenance information

Subject broad and inclusive –proper names –form terms –genre terms –iconographic terms free-text and controlled fields no precoordination of subject headings no subject subdivisions singular or plural form of terms

Example of CCO MARC21 Record

IOLS MARC AACR, etc.CCO Possible Model for Library Cataloging

IOLS Drawbacks MARC format only MARC input only – difficult for non-librarians inherent display limitations limited number of indexes book-centric, e.g. default labels, focus of the indexes sharp learning curve for proper use

IOLS Advantages availability of the system turn-key functionality instant public visibility of object records improved access to a portion of the collections cross-collection searching facilitates exhibition planning object records coexist with records for traditional library materials catalogers gain experience – fresh perspective

Environment LibrariesMuseumsVR collections Data Content StandardAACR, etc.CCO Data Format StandardMARCCIMI schema CDWA Dublin Core Object ID VRA Core CDWA Data Communications Standard MARC ? ? SystemIOLSCMS ? CCO

What CCO Offers guidance on the documentation of objects fresh perspective for library catalogers viable alternative to library cataloging rules compatible with data standards librarians are committed to no need for new infrastructure helpful in cataloging inaccessible portions of library collections

Thank you. Maria Oldal Head of Cataloging and Database Maintenance Pierpont Morgan Library The Pierpont Morgan Library, McKim Building