Translated Title Access for Non-Roman Language Materials

Author: Jim Soe Nyun and Shi Deng
Date: June 30, 2004
Approved by: Cataloging Committee

Background: Access to translated titles not appearing on an item will be provided for non-Roman language materials under certain circumstances. Depending on the type of material, catalogers will supply either a 242 field in a bibliographic record or a cross reference in an authority record. For further information on field 242, see Translation of Title by Cataloging Agency in the OCLC Bibliographic Formats and Standards: http://www.oclc.org/bibformats/en/2xx/242.shtm.

For textual materials, provide 242 fields containing a translated title when all the followings are met. Follow guidelines for field 245 to determine use of indicators and subfields. For original cataloging, include the 242 in the master OCLC record.

1) The item consists of scientific non-Roman language material that could be useful to patrons who do not know the original language.

2) The item itself is not a translation.

3) A translated title is not on the item itself, but easily available (e.g. from publisher catalog, acquisitions record, or translation provided by bibliographer) without requiring staff to search for or translate the title.

For non-Roman non-textual musical or video material that could be useful to patrons who do not know the original language, and where conditions 2-3 above also apply, give the translated title as a cross-reference in an authority record for the work being cataloged. Do not create a 242 in the bibliographic record.