Important considerations

AMIM or AACR2

The Library of Congress uses AMIM (Archival Moving Images Material manual) for its video cataloging. PCC uses AACR2; Yale uses AACR2, even for archival cataloging. If a PCC rule interpretation exists, it will be recorded at the appropriate rule number in the LCRIs. In the absence of a PCC RI, follow the local rule interpretations recorded here and identified as (YUL). Most of the local interpretations are based on common utility practice.

Chief source

(7.0B1): The chief source is (in order of preference):

a) the title and credit frames (opening AND closing; be sure to check at the end of the video.)

b) If the item is not playable because we lack the playback equipment for the item to be cataloged, the chief source is the physical item itself (the carrier).

DVD. For purposes of determining chief source, the carrier is the videodisc, NOT the box or sleeve it comes in (the AACR2 glossary is somewhat misleading). Option b) also applies when the video itself lacks credit information but credit information is found on the disc.

VIDEOCASSETTE. For purposes of determining chief source, the carrier is the videocassette and its label, NOT the box or sleeve it comes in. Option b) also applies when the video itself lacks credit information but credit information is found on the carrier, e.g. the videocassette label.

(YUL:) Since the title on the carrier sometimes differs from the title on the frames, for original cataloging every effort should be made to find a suitable playback device and view the actual video. Although not required, for the benefit of shared cataloging include a source of title proper note if option b) is used. (See example in the Notes section for 7.7B3.)

If information is not available from a) or b), take it from (in order of preference):

• accompanying textual material
• container (i.e., the box or sleeve) footnote 3
• other sources

Note that if the title and statement of responsibility are not taken from a) or b), the information must be enclosed in square brackets; for example, title & statement of responsibility information taken from accompanying material, or the box/sleeve, must be in square brackets.

Prescribed sources for the other areas. No order of preference is given if more than one source is provided. If information is not taken from one of the sources listed below, it must be recorded in square brackets.

Choice of entry

Videos are generally entered under title, based on AACR2 21.1C1, where the cataloger is instructed to enter under title when personal authorship is diffuse and the work does not emanate from a corporate body. Some exceptions might be: video art, where in some cases the video is totally conceived and executed by a single individual, a video about a business firm commissioned by the firm, or a video of a conference if the conference is named.

Note that AACR2 21.1B2, e), a music video by a performing group "where the responsibility of the group goes beyond that of mere performance, execution, etc." is entered under the name of the group. For performance situations, LCRI 21.23C applies the rules for sound recordings to videorecordings when the video contains works by different persons or bodies (entry under "principal performer).

Footnote 3: AACR2 glossary defines a container as: "Housing for an item, a group of items, or part of any item, that is physically separable from the material being housed (e.g., a box for a disk or videocassette, a sleeve for a sound or videodisc)." However, 7.0B1 uses container in 2 senses. As option b) of chief source, a container is "an integral part of the piece (e.g., a cassette)." However, as "information not available from the chief source," a container is understood to be "not an integral part of the piece," by inference, the box or sleeve used to contain the videocassette. And, by inference, in the prescribed sources of information for the edition, publication, and series areas, "chief source" includes container in the first sense, and "container" implies container in the second sense. Olson's 1998 Cataloging of audiovisual materials states "The place of publication or distribution for videocassettes is given only on the container in many cases. If so, it must be bracketed." This was probably based on the 1993 version of AACR2, where "container" was not listed as one of the prescribed sources. "Container" is listed as one of the prescribed sources for edition, publication, and series area in the 1998 version of AACR2. Conclusion: in current cataloging, information taken from the box or sleeve does not need to be bracketed for the edition, publication, or series areas.