Collection-level records

"Collection-level cataloging involves the creation of a single bibliographic record for a group of monographic, serial, or archival materials." (opening sentence of introduction in CSB guidelines cited below) Determining that a group of materials should be handled through collection-level cataloging often results from collaboration between collections and technical services staff, and provides for effective access when item-level access is inappropriate.

For collection-level records at NYU, follow LC's guidelines in the Cataloging service bulletin (currently, the most recent version is in CSB no. 78, fall 1997, p. 8-28) as closely as possible. Emphasis will be on access points, rather than description. Make as many added entries as is practicable, using forms from the ADVANCE authority file or from NAF if available. If no authority record for an added entry, establish according to AACR2. Add a genre/form heading if appropriate.

Examples of NYU collection-level records:

• organization files in Tamiment - search t=publications relating to ...
• slide sets for Parsons - search gf=slides
• microform sets from the North American Congress on Latin America - search tw=nacla and gmd=microform
• Russian archive [sound recording]
• Alternative radio audio cassettes [sound recording]