Table of Contents
Guidelines for Transcription (RDA 1.7)
Certain fields must be transcribed rather than simply recorded. Transcribed elements match exactly what is on the resource. (There are exceptions for some capitalization and punctuation rules).
Transcribed Fields
| Element | MARC Field |
|---|---|
| Title: title and parallel title proper, other title and parallel other title information, variant title | 245 / $a, $b |
| Statement and parallel statement of responsibility relating to title proper | 245 $c |
| Edition: designation and parallel designation, statement and parallel statement of responsibility, designation and parallel designation of a named revision of an edition, statement and parallel statement of responsibility relating to a named revision | 250 $a, $b |
| Production: place and parallel place, name and parallel name, and date | 264 _0 $a, $b, $c |
| Publication: place and parallel place, name and parallel name, and date | 264 _1 $a, $b, $c |
| Distribution: place and parallel place, name and parallel name, and date | 264 _2 $a, $b, $c |
| Manufacturer: place and parallel place, name and parallel name, and date | 264 _3 $a, $b, $c |
Capitalization (RDA 1.7.2)
PINES has implemented the guidelines in RDA Appendix A. For titles, capitalize only the first letter in the title. Exceptions are proper names and proper nouns.
On resource: Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell.
Record as: 245 10 Gone with the wind / ǂc Margaret Mitchell.
On resource: BABAR THE KING by Jean de Brunhoff ; translated into English by Scott Fontenot & Denise St. Pierre.
Record as: 245 10 Babar the king / ǂc Jean de Brunhoff ; translated into English by Scott Fontenot & Denise St. Pierre.
Punctuation (RDA 1.7.3)
Transcribe punctuation as it appears on the source.
Examples of punctuation in titles:
…And then there were none
What is it? what is it not?
Vessels on the Northwest coast between Alaska and California – 1543–1811
I don’t do dishes!
However, sometimes it is necessary to add, omit, or modify punctuation for clarity.
Example - title page formatted as a list:
Aristotle Onassis
by
Nicholas Fraser
Frank Smith
Simon Lemon
Esther Ryde
edited by Joe Jackson
You can add commas for clarity and record as:
245 10 Aristotle Onassis / ǂc by Nicholas Fraser, Frank Smith, Simon Lemon, Esther Ryde ; edited by Joe Jackson.
Diacritics (RDA 1.7.4)
Transcribe diacritical marks such as accents as they appear on the source of information.
Add diacritical marks that are not present on the source of information in accordance with standard usage for the language of the data.
Title page: LES MISERABLES
Record as: 245 14 Les misérables.
How to Add Diacritics in Connexion
Place your cursor after the letter needing the diacritic (e.g. e|), or highlight the letter. Then select the diacritics editor by using Ctrl e or from Edit menu — Enter Diacritics. Choose what you need and click Insert & Close.
Symbols (RDA 1.7.5)
Replace symbols and other characters that cannot be reproduced by the facilities available, and add a note with a description of the symbol.
245 10 Animal[apples]
500 The letter “a” in title is presented by images of red apples.
Spacing (RDA 1.7.6)
Transcribe acronyms and initials without spaces.
Example:
Title page: by J. D. Salinger.
Record as: 245 … ǂc by J.D. Salinger.
Note that this rule does not apply to transcribing a personal access point in authority record in the 100 tag. Here, there has to be a space between initials.
100 1_ Salinger, J. D. ǂq (Jerome David), ǂd 1919-2010.</WRAP>
Transcribe slashes and other symbols without spaces.
Example:
Title page: Anything / anytime / anywhere for you.
Record as: 245 00 Anything/anytime/anywhere for you.
Abbreviations (RDA 1.7.8 and Appendix B)
Generally, RDA standards and guidelines state to avoid using abbreviations and to only use when they appear on the resource. The primary exceptions are for:
- Units of measurement
- Abbreviations that are regularly used in resources and are commonly understood by users
See RDA Appendix B for further guidance.
Inaccuracies (RDA 1.7.9; 2.3.6)
Transcribe an inaccuracy or a misspelled word as it appears on the resource unless the instructions for a specific element differ. (See exceptions RDA 2.3.1.4)
You can make a note to explain, if necessary. Add a variant title to record the correct form of the inaccuracies in a title to ensure identification and access.
Examples:
On title page: Oak Hill Methodist Church Cemetary
Transcribe as:
245 00 Oak Hill Methodist Church Cemetary
246 3 Oak Hill Methodist Church Cemetery
or
245 00 Oak Hill Methodist Church Cemetary
246 1_ ǂi Title misspelled and should read: ǂa Oak Hill Methodist Church Cemetery