SC&A Artists’ Books Cataloging Guidelines

To ensure that we’re cataloging artists’ books in a uniform way, here are some guidelines for notes, subject and genre headings, and relationship designators, etc.

Call numbers

Generally, class under N7433.4 or N7433.3

Primary Access Point and Relationship Designators

Assign 100 to the artist, who conceived the book, versus the writer of the text (if text is written by someone else).  Prefer assigning the relationship designator “book artist” from the RBMS relationship designator list.

When the text is written by someone else, usually trace the writer in a 700 and assign the relationship designator “writer of supplementary textual content.” If the artist is adapting a poem or other literary work provide a name title entry with the appropriate relationship designator (usually “adaptation of (work)” or “inspired by” depending on the context).

Subject and Genre Headings 

Local practice regarding subject and genre heading assignment for artists' books has changed over past few years due to changes in the vocabularies we use. Current local practice is to both assign a LCSH subject heading and LCGFT genre heading to records for artists' books.

LCSH subject heading (650)

“Artists’ books” has finally been redefined in LCSH so that the heading can now legitimately carry the form subdivision |v Specimen. For artists’ books produced in California, geographically subdivide to the city level, if known.  For other places, subdivide to the country or state as appropriate. Chronologically subdivide to the century.

Genre/form heading (655)

Since the new RBMS controlled vocabularies are not subdividable, assign the unsubdivided genre term "Artists' books." Since this term is the same in LCGFT as it is the RBMS vocabulary, use LCGFT in $2 so it is controllable in OCLC.

Examples:

650 _0 Artists’ books |z California |z San Diego |y 20th century |v Specimens.

655 _7 Artists’ books. |2 lcgft

650 _0 Artists’ books |z France |y 21st century |v Specimens.

655 _7 Artists’ books. |2 lcgft

650 _0 Artists’ books |z North Carolina |y 21st century |v Specimens.

655 _7 Artists’ books. |2 lcft

 Additional Genre Terms

Always assign the genre term “Artists’ books” to materials selected as artists’ book.  Assign any additional art genre terms such as “Mail art,” as applicable. 

Local Collections/Gifts

Latin American artists’ books

Latin America is one of the collecting focuses of our artists' books collection.  For artists' books from Latin American countries, assign an additional local genre heading with the geographic subdivision Latin America.

Examples:

650 _0 Artists' books |z Mexico |y 21st century |v Specimens.

655 _7 Artists’ books. |2 lcgft

655 _7 Artists’ books |z Latin America. |2 local

650 _0 Artists' books |z Cuba |y 21st century |v Specimens.

655 _7 Artists’ books. |2 lcgft

655 _7 Artists’ books |z Latin America. |2 local

We are no longer assigning the 793 Latin American artists’ book collection to artists' books from this region.

Processing

DO NOT write call numbers on artists’ books. Otherwise, follow normal SC&A processing procedures.   Consult Lynda on housing for any odd shaped or delicate items.

Written by Michelle Mascaro, 03/29/2017; updated 4/25/2017; 8/25/2017; 12/8/2017; 04/26/2021; 06/29/2021; 09/28/2023