The aim of the ACT library is to include all resources related to Jane Austen’s 1815 novel, Emma. We include resources of many different types—books and films, adaptations and literary criticism—but the scope of the library is still relatively narrow as there is only one principal subject area. As a result, our cataloging needs are fairly limited.

We have four major goals in cataloging our material: listing the type of media for each resource; indicating when it was created; describing how each resource is related to the original Emma; and providing numerous access points for all those individuals who have participated in the creation of the many manifestations of Emma.

For media type, we rely on standard MARC categories in the 300s, but also use the 655 field to state, in layperson’s language, whether a resource is a paperback, hardcover, or e-book; on VHS, DVD, or streaming video; and so on. This field will be displayed to users and will be searchable on the library’s interface.

We include both publication date and copyright date whenever possible.

To indicate the relationship between each resource and the original Emma, we use the 500 field to provide a brief description of this relationship. We record additional information in our subject headings as needed to highlight unique features of a particular resource. This field will also be visible to patrons on the library’s interface.

Finally, we are generous in our use of the 700 field to name writers, producers, actors, narrators, editors, and so on, in the event that our patrons only remember the name of a single individual involved in the resource for which they are searching.

Our originally cataloged items—including texts, audio, and visual material—will serve as the basis and reference for all future additions to our catalog. We anticipate new materials coming in, including submissions from patrons, community members, and fans of Jane Austin, and have attempted to create a simple and flexible cataloging policy that can accommodate new materials.

mandatory MARC fields:

245

264—especially copyright date, if available; if not, year of publication

300

336

337

338

500—for first entry in the 500 field, choose from the following (you may include more than one of these entries if applicable):

Jane Austen’s original text of Emma (the 1815 edition)

reprint or reissue of Jane Austen’s original text of Emma

translation of Jane Austen’s original text of Emma

adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma

(where possible, note details of the nature of the adaptation)

criticism and interpretation of Jane Austen’s Emma

history and biography of Jane Austen’s Emma

(other description, if the above do not capture the relationship adequately)

655—use 655 field to report media type in layperson’s language (e.g., DVD, CD-ROM, VHS, etc.)

MARC fields to include if available:

020

050—though we are shelving our materials by media type, we want to preserve classification numbers in case our collection is passed on to another library

082—see above

100

504

520—include only the summary provided on the manifestation or it’s publicity materials)

650— For fictional versions of Emma, regardless of the media or carrier type, use these LC subject headings:

Mate selection $v fiction

Female friendship $v fiction

Fathers and daughters $v fiction

Young women $v fiction

651—then specify the place and time in which the specific fictional version of Emma is set. (For example, the original Emma will specify “England” and “19th century”; for adaptations set in other countries or time periods, please refer to the LCSH for temporal and geographic terms.)

For criticism and interpretation, use these LC subject headings (and others as appropriate):

Austen, Jane, $d 1775-1817. $t Emma

Austen, Jane, $d 1775-1817 $x Criticism and interpretation

700—Include all named contributors to the manifestation using authority names as possible