Cataloguing principles revisited

Abstract

The paper analyses the principles which inspired the Italian cataloguing code (Regole italiane di catalogazione per autori, RICA) and the reasons which underpin their choices, seeking in both possible starting points for a reasoned revision and balanced development of said rules. The author believes that the roots of the future of cataloguing also in Italy lie in rules which conform to internationally accepted principles.

RICA were formally published in 1979, a year after the publication of AACR2, and are substantially faithful to the initial formulation which respected the cataloguing principles agreed to in 1961 by the Italian delegation to the Paris International Conference.

RICA, whose nucleus is inspired by Lubetzky's ideas, immediately gained a reputation as a radically innovative code. Today, there are calls from many sides for its revision, as a constant maintenance programme has to date not been in place.

As regards ISBD, it is an international standard, as are the Paris principles, and as such should be translated into national rules of descriptive cataloguing, but not literally incorporated in the code itself.

One of RICA's significant principles is the rigour which underpins the concept of author, to decide the heading of a main entry, as owner of the intellectual paternity of a work and not of a different form of responsibility. This definition is particularly demanding when the author is a corporate body. In those cases when the conditions are not fully met, RICA prescribe the alternative of title main entry.

Another point to be clarified is how one should define complex headings for certain bodies in the author catalogue.

On the topic of headings, we cannot avoid the question of the main entry, which tends to be denied validity and significance by the new forms of the catalogue.

RICA rigorously observe the principle of basing the uniform heading on the form with which the author is most frequently identified in original-language editions of his works, but perhaps they have not drawn all the consequences of the exception in favour of another name or form of name, which has become constant or prevalent in the general use of current literature and in ordinary reference works.

RICA do not allow exceptions to the principle of uniformity of heading, not even when an author uses a specific name for some works. This exception is one of the most significant innovations of AACR2.

RICA's revision should be preceded by the gathering of authoritative interpretations and decisions. This should be the task of the Standing Commission established by the Central Office for Libraries with the privileged support of the viewpoint of the professional association of Italian librarians.