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| Music, media, libraries and my tortuous ascent into the middle class. |
The AACR2 (Anglo-American Cataloging Rules 2nd Edition) is commonly referred to as the Cataloger's Bible, which is fitting because it's typically as exciting as the first nine chapters of First Chronicles. But it would seem to be the last place one would find an affirmation of the supernatural. I swear I'm not making this up:
21.26. Spirit Communications21.26A. Enter a communication presented as having been received from a spirit under the heading for the spirit (see 22.14). Make an added entry under the heading for the medium or other person recording the communication.
This implies that the spirit is more important than the medium (such as a psychic) in creating the information source--that the spirit is more directly responsible for the item. (I guess it's an extension of the rule 21.25 where interviewees are given the main heading while the interviewers are given the added (secondary) heading.)
I could try to be a good Humanist and be outraged, but my first reaction was laughter. I guess part of me is exasperated that the spirit world has nudged its way into something as logical and technically precise as the AACR2, but another part of me likes to see the messiness of human imperfection creep up in something as brain-numbingly dry as the AACR2.
I guess that's why my wife and I have taken to skipping the morning news, which usually boils our blood with either the stupidity of world events and people, or the inanity of the news reporters. Instead we've been eating our breakfast to the Pet Psychic on Animal Planet. Part of the show has Sonya Fitzpatrick comfort grieving humans by her communicating with their deceased pet.
Sonya Fitzpatrick has written a book, but because she has talked to several animals in the book, then I guess AACR2 says she should get the main heading. But if she ever wrote a book in which she interviewed a single deceased animal who was responsible for the bulk of the material, then the animal would get the main heading.
You know, I've noticed -- with my limited exposure to library science, a la Mike Waugh -- that topics in that particular subject tend to be very dry. I suppose moisture is a librarian's second greatest foe... after fire.
Earlier today, in my quest to comprehend XML documents, XML Schemata, and XSLT stylesheet transformations, I ran across MARC XML Illustrated! Wow. Just look at those illustrations! Kind of like an exploded diagram of a Matzo. But what was I expecting? Winnie the Pooh?
After all, we're talking about the convergence of Library Science and Internet Standards.
But I'm glad to read that yet another two humans have given up on morning "news" programs... For those of you who choose not to watch Survivor let's recap the highlights.
When exactly did Gerber buy out the media?
Posted by: Robert, Waugh the Younger at June 13, 2004 03:48 AM