It is understandable that everyone is quite occupied in his/her
preparations for the Helsinki conference and doesn't want to be sidetracked.
However, following the principle that the only stupid question is the one not
asked, I have gathered my courage and put in another one. Please forgive me
again if the question has already been addressed. This is in regard to the
distinction between the Creator element and the Contributor element, or why
making the distinction at all.
Since every element is repeatable, why not just repeat the Creator element
with appropriate qualifiers for any additional contributors and combine the two
elements into one Creator/Contributor element? Sometimes it is not easy to
decide who the creator or major contributor is. For instance, for a children's
story on the Web with elaborate graphics, is the creator of the text more
important than the graphic designer? Since both would be indexed by the same
Name Index, and could be displayed together to the public. There doesn't seem a
point to enter them into different elements. Interestingly enough, in the 4/7/97
DC/MARC crosswolk, both the Creator and Contributor elements are mapped into the
same MARC fields 7xx.
Perhaps some would say this is not a big deal, leave the Contributor element
there for anyone who sees fit to use it. However, the issue here, in my opinion,
is similar to the Main Entry problem that is being heatedly debated in another
Listserv (to revise AACR2). I have no intention of raising any unhappiness in
any quarters, but it seems to me that this is the opportunity for DC to free
itself of the main entry issue.
Karen
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The opinions expressed here are personal and do not necessarily represent the
official views of The New York Public Library
Karen M. Hsu
Assistant Director for Cataloging
New York Public Library
42nd St. & 5th Ave.
New York, N.Y. 10018-2788
(212) 930-0702
(212) 930-0785 (Fax)
Internet: [log in to unmask]
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