3-D Objects

Three-Dimensional Objects

Three-dimensional objects are cataloged for the most part in accordance with OLAC’s Best Practices For Cataloging Objects Using RDA and MARC 21. (opens a pdf)

Leader

  • 06: Type of record. Use the value r (three-dimensional artifact or naturally occurring object)
  • 07: Bibliographic level. Use the value m (monograph/item) or c (collections)

008 Fields

  • 06: Type of date. Coding choices are: s (single known date/probable date), m (multiple dates) or q (questionable).
  • 07-10: Date 1. Give the earliest date, or single date, from the 264 field.
  • 11-14: Date 2.Give the latest or closing date, if present, from the 264 field.
  • 15: Country of Publication, Production, or Execution. Give the code corresponding to the place transcribed, or supplied, in the 264 field. Do not leave the place of publication as unknown; always try to determine a place.
  • 25: Type of material. Use the value a (art original), c (art reproduction), d (diorama), g (game), q (model), r (realia), or w (toy)

Note: The 007 field is not used for this format. The 006 field can be used to bring out additional characteristics. Do not use 3-D artifact in the 006, this field is for additional characteristics—the record is coded as 3-D artifact or naturally occurring object in the leader.

Title and statement of responsibility (245)

Transcribe title, other title information and statement(s) of responsibility. If the item does not contain a title, devise a title. Do not use square brackets for supplied titles for three-dimensional objects. Statements of responsibility are not confined to creators; they may include individuals who have collected, selected or presented the manifestation.

Variant Title

Variant title entries are not core, but should be made for any variation in title appearing on or with the item.

Edition statement (250)

Transcribe edition statements as they appear on the object.

Published or Unpublished

If it is unknown whether a three-dimensional object is published or unpublished, assume that it is unpublished.

The date of production element is core. Record place of production and producer’s name if present on the resource.

Consider a manifestation that bears a distribution statement, or manufacture statement, to have been published. Consider a commercially manufactured or distributed item or collection of items to have been published.

If no publication, distribution, or manufacture statement is present on the object, but the item is known to have been published, supply elements to create one of either a publication, distribution, or manufacture statement, whichever is most appropriate depending on the available information. If no dates are present on the resource, approximate or supply one of either a publication, distribution, or manufacture date, whichever is most appropriate depending on the available information.

If it is unclear if a statement on a resource is a publication, distribution, or manufacture statement, assume it is a publication statement.

Only record values for publication, manufacture, distribution elements which are present on the item, or if supplying information, supply it from readily accessible sources such as reference sources, vendor descriptions, or cataloger’s knowledge (OLAC, p. 45-50).

Publication, Distribution, Manufacture Statements (264)

Prefer information about publication, distribution, manufacture found inside the item, and within the item, prefer information found in the same source as the title proper. Information may be supplied from outside the item following cataloger’s judgement. Indicate that information is supplied either by using brackets or a note. If using brackets, you may also make a note on the source of supplied information if it would aid in the identification of the item (OLAC, p. 45).

Three-dimensional objects may have distribution or manufacture statements instead of traditional publication statements and frequently lack anything resembling a publication, distribution, or manufacture statement at all. Apply RDA’s principle of conformance and provide only elements that are “applicable and readily ascertainable” (RDA 0.6.4). Record information from the object in the element or elements it most logically corresponds to. Record all statements which are present on the item, unless doing so would prove impracticable. Avoid recording “[element] not identified,” if there is no such element to describe (OLAC, p. 44).

Naturally Occurring Objects

Do not formulate a 264 field for naturally occurring objects.

Extent (300 ‡a)

Record the number and type of units. Choose a term listed in RDA 3.4.6. If none of the terms listed is appropriate, devise your own term. If you have more than one unit type, list them all. If the exact number cannot be discerned, use “approximately”. List subunits in parentheses following the term or use “various pieces”.

Color (300 ‡b)

Examine the resource for color content. Record the names of the colors, if the resource is in one or two colors. Record “color”, if the resource has more than two colors.

Dimensions(300 ‡c)

Dimensions include measurements of height, width, depth, length, gauge, and diameter. “If necessary, add a word to indicate which dimension is being given. If multiple dimensions are given, record them as height × width × depth.” (RDA 3.5.1.4.13) If present, name the container and record its dimensions either in addition to the dimensions of the resource or as the only dimensions.

Content, media, carrier (336, 337, 338)

or

Tactile Three-Dimensional Form:

“A content type consisting of content expressed through a form or forms intended to be perceived through touch as a three-dimensional form or forms.”—RDA Glossary

Example: Feely bag game

A set of 10 pairs of textured squares in a cotton drawstring bag.

Physical Medium (340)

Use separate fields for each unique term.

‡a Base Material

Record the underlying physical material of a resource if it is readily ascertainable. Use one or more terms from the list of RDA-controlled terms (see RDA Material). If none of the terms listed is appropriate or sufficiently specific, devise a term.

‡c Applied Material

Record the substance applied to the base material if it is readily ascertainable. Use one or more appropriate terms from the list of RDA-controlled terms (see RDA Material). Or, devise a more appropriate term.

‡e Mount

Record the physical material used to support or back the resource material if it is readily ascertainable. Use one or more appropriate terms from the list of RDA-controlled terms (see RDA Material). Or, devise a more appropriate term.

‡d Production Method

Record the process used to produce the resource if it is readily ascertainable. Use one or more appropriate terms from the list of RDA-controlled terms (see RDA Production Method). Or, devise a more appropriate term.

Series Statement (490)

Transcribe series statements that appear within the resource.

Local Notes (590)

Create local notes and provenance notes/tracings.
For a more complete list of local notes, see Copy specific notes

General Notes (500)

Always make a note on the source of the title proper.
Provide further description of the item(s) if the information given in the physical description area is not sufficient.

Subject Access (650)

Use LC subject headings. Include ‡v Specimens, a free-floating genre/form subdivision, which may be used “under types of publications, printed material, etc.” (H 1095).

When applicable, provide additional access points that bring out the qualities for which the object was acquired and added to the collection.

Genre/Form Headings (655)

Create genre/form tracings as appropriate. Consult thesauri in the following order of preference:

  1. Library of Congress Genre Form Terms (LCGFT)

  2. Library of Congress Thesaurus for Graphic Materials (TGM)

  3. Art and Architecture Thesaurus

  4. Genre Terms for Tabletop Games (GTTG)

Added Access Points(7xx)

Create added access points for personal/corporate names, if considered important and/or to bring out the associations for which the object was acquired.

Examples

  1. Voyager records
  2. OLAC Best Practices for Cataloging Objects, Appendix 1 (pages 71-158)
    https://olacinc.org/sites/default/files/OLAC_Objects_BestPractices_22Jan2020.pdf