Adding Death Dates to Personal Names

Greetings catalogers,

At the February 14 Cataloging Committee meeting we developed UCSD guidelines for implementing the new option to add death dates to personal names (LCRI 22.17).  Please begin using the guidelines below immediately.  If you have any questions or suggestions, consult your supervisor. 
Thanks!--Cataloging Committee

Original and enhance cataloging : Prepare NACO authority work for all new or revised name headings, according to existing UCSD NACO policy.  Regarding death dates, follow LC's guidelines and apply the option to add death dates to existing personal name authority records with open dates ONLY when a personal name heading is being used on bibliographic records currently being cataloged.  If a name authority record is being established for the first time, birth and death dates may be added to the heading.  Do not add birth or death dates to personal name headings on existing authority records that currently have no dates, except in cases of conflict.  Do NOT add death dates in authority or bibliographic records without completing NACO authority work.  If you are not authorized to do NACO authority work and think that a name authority requires a change, please notify your supervisor or the NACO coordinator, Paul Weiss. 

Copy cataloging :  No change.  Continue current policies and procedures for name heading verification and use.

Database Management :  Ryan Finnerty and DBM will develop a plan to correct UCSD bib records to keep them in sync with updated authority records received through the Backstage Library Works MARS process.  The Library of Congress has issued a list of 300 personal name authority records that will have death dates added (link no longer valid) DBM will make sure UCSD gets revised authority records for names we have used in our catalog, as well as correct the corresponding bib records.  DBM will also process Bibliographer requests to add death dates to particular personal names.  If catalogers note any discrepancies between authority and bib record headings, please report them to DBM.

Email from Cataloging Committee to Catalogers, February 23, 2006