what’s a cataloger to do?

When Art and Books Collide

Supervisor (1 faculty, 3 staff, plus students)Catalog or review cataloging of all other

materials for the Fine Arts Library:Monographs: music, art, theater, danceAudio visual media: sound, video, etc.Artists’ books

Other faculty responsibilities:ServiceResearchProfessional Development

Besides cataloging music …

What is an Artists’ Book?An Artists’ Book is a book made by an artist that has a visual impact, whether it is through the overall design, the typography, the pictures within, or the binding. The books are usually produced with painstaking care in very limited editions, or as unique examples.

-Meg Shaw, former Art Librarian,

UK Libraries

Little Pink

Houses by

Maryann Riker

Sculptural book,

Jacob’s Ladder

hinge binding,

includes found

objects

Samples

O is for Opera by Jim Machacek (edition of 45)

Samples: incorporating music

Fish in the Sky

OH MY! By Mary

Rezny

A “sculptural

star book”

Limited edition

of 100.

Samples: Local artist

Cataloged on a book formatEven when 3-dimensional

Notes!Where title obtained fromMaterials usedTechniques used

Call numberN7433.4

Subject HeadingsArtists’ books (with subdivisions)At least one other

Cataloging Basics: It’s still a book

Cataloging ChallengesTitle

Often not on itemArtist’s name

Sometimes not on item

DateMost likely not on

itemPublishing info

Usually not on itemMost are self-

published

The Inundation of the Spring by Maryann Riker

Finding a title pageAACR2: Chief Source of Information, 2.0B1RDA: Sources of Information, rules under 2.2

Cataloging Challenges

Accompanying papers, invoices, etc.The artist’s websiteWebsite for distributors

Where to find information

AACR2First ones I

catalogedChief Source of info?Titles in brackets,

often“1 v. (unpaged)”

didn’t always fitNever felt satisfied

by the descriptionMost of it in notes

Currently usingSources of InfoNo brackets around

titles“1 object” is much

better33x fields help fill

out description

AACR2 vs. RDA

RDA

•Title came from

artist’s website

•Wasn’t much of

a title, more of a

description

•Notes describe

item and

materials used

•I use “… in art”

a lot for subject

headings

Sample RDA Record

•Same artist,

same issue with

title

•Notes are

interesting, lots

of different

materials used

•This is a unique

book

Sample RDA Record

This one came

with an

instruction card

describing how

to use the item.

See 520 note.

A Book with Instructions

•3 objects

•Added a 505

Contents note

•Description from

artist in a 500

Note field

Multiple parts

Numbered BoxesPublic note in holding record

“In locked stacks, box x”Closed StacksStick slips containing

Barcode Call number Title Box number

Logistical Issues: Housing

Lined up on the Shelves

Boxes Some contain author names/call numbers

Top of a Box

More Boxes

Stick Slip

Meeting John Jacob Niles

Unique Item made for Library

Working Dulcimer

Book inside the Dulcimer

Unique item made for Library

Close up

Kerri Baunach

kscannell@uky.edu

More on Artists’ Books at UK: http://libguides.uky.edu/artistsbooks

Thank you!