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Home > Minerva > Cataloging > How To's > Cataloging Mulitpart Items

Cataloging Mulitpart Items

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When you are confronted with a multipart item (a 10 volume encyclopedia or a set of DVDs or videocassettes, for example), you must decide:

Should each part be cataloged separately?

You might consider using a separate bib record for each part IF each part has a unique title, and/or different statements of responsibility, different subjects, summaries, or cast members, for example.

If YES ->

  • Find a separate, unique bibliographic record for each part of the set.
  • Never use copies of the same bibliographic record for each part of the set.
  • Do not use the volume field in the item record.

If NO->

  1. Find one bibliographic record that represents the whole set.
  2. You must decide: Should each part circulate separately?
    • If YES->
      • You must create a separate item record for each part of the set.
      • You must use the volume field in the item record to distinguish each item.
    • If NO->
      • Use one item record for the whole set.
      • Do not use a volume field in the item record

See example below: Elizabeth R miniseries (6 videocassettes), cataloged 2 ways:

Parts cataloged separately:

1st Bib record:

  • 245 00 Elizabeth R.|nVol. 1,|pThe lion’s cub|h[videorecording] /
    |cBritish Broadcasting Corporation.
  • 246 3 Lion’s cub
  • 300 1 videocassette (90 min.) : |bsd., col. ;|c1/2 in.
  • 520 "Princess Elizabeth endures imprisonment and faces execution before she ascends to the throne"–Container.

Item record:

  • 090 VID ELI v. 1

2nd Bib record:

  • 245 00 Elizabeth R.|nVol. 2,|pThe marriage game|h[videorecording]
    /|cBritish Broadcasting Corporation.
  • 246 3 Marriage game
  • 300 1 videocassette (90 min.) : |bsd., col. ;|c1/2 in.
  • 520 "Elizabeth looks for a husband and invites amorous intrigues"–Container.

Item record:

  • 090 VID ELI v. 2

etc.

Parts not cataloged separately:

Bib record:

  • 245 00 Elizabeth R|h[videorecording] /|cBBC Video ; produced and  directed by Roderick Graham.
  • 300 6 videocassettes (540 min.) : |bsd., col. ;|c1/2 in.
  • 505 0 v. 1. Lion’s cub – v. 2. Marriage game – v. 3. Shadow in the sun – v. 4. Horrible conspiracies – v. 5. Enterprise of England – v. 6. Sweet England’s pride.

Item records:

  • 090 VID ELI
    v v. 1
  • 090 VID ELI
    v v. 2

etc.

  • or: (1 item for whole set)
  • 090 VID ELI