198. Give (under the author) a list of the contents of books containing
several works by the same author, or works by several authors, or
works on several subjects, or a single work on a number of distinct
subjects,[63] especially if the collective title does not sufficiently
describe them.[64]
[note] 63. As a collection of lives.[/note]
[note] 64. Only Full can give the contents of all such works,
including the memoirs, transactions, etc., of all the learned
societies. And in an analytical catalogue this is much less important.
When every separate treatise is entered in its proper places under
the names of its author and of its subject, why should it be given
again in a long column of fine type which few persons will ever read?
Because, if analysis is not complete, contents supplement it; and
one who has forgotten author and subject may occasionally recall
them by looking over a “_contents_;” and this list is, so far as it
goes, a substitute for a classed catalogue in this respect. Moreover,
the “_contents_” is needed to fully explain the character of the
subject-entry (see § 4). In the division _Biography_ under countries
we have many such titles as “Memoirs of eminent Englishwomen,”
“British senators,” “Political portraits.” It is an advantage to the
reader, though perhaps neither a great nor a frequent advantage, to be
able to find out from the catalogue what Englishwomen and what British
senators he shall find described in the books. No catalogue can be
considered complete that omits such information.
For collected works of any author “_contents_” have been found so
useful that even Short often gives them, especially of late, and
strange to say, not rarely prints them in the most extravagant style,
allowing a line for each item. One may sometimes see a quarter of a
page left bare from this cause.[/note]
199. When a single work fills several volumes give the contents under
the author, provided the division is definite and easily described.
Object, that the inquirer may know which volume he wants; application,
chiefly to dictionaries and historical works; method, in general,
giving dates and letters of the alphabet, which take little room. It
is particularly important also to fully describe in this way very
bulky works; Walton’s Polyglott is a good example, in consulting
which, without such a guide, one may have to handle ten gigantic
folios.
200. Under the subject repeat so much of the contents as is necessary
to show how the subject is treated or what part is treated in the
different volumes.
This is particularly desirable in works with an insufficiently
descriptive title which treat of several subjects, for which under
each heading will be given its appropriate part of the contents. For
example, Hugo’s “Jus civile Antejustinianeum” contains the originals
of Antejustinian law, but this does not appear from its title, and
if it did, it would be hardly worth while to save a few lines by
obliging the reader to turn to «Hugo» to ascertain just what is in the
book. On the other hand, the contents of Pertz’s “Monumenta Germaniae
historica” is so long that only Fullest can afford to give it under
Germany as well as under Pertz. In such a case the reader feels it to
be more reasonable that he should be referred.
The contents is often more useful under subject-heading than under
author; but it is best that there should be one uniform place where it
can always be found, and where the whole of it can be found, and that
place should be the author-catalogue.
201. Put into notes (in small type) that information which is not given
in the title but is required to be given by the plan of the catalogue.
{79}
Notes have several objects:
1. To give any information about the author, the form of his
name, his pseudonyms, etc., about the different editions or
places of publication, or about the gaps in a set (especially of
periodicals), which can not be included in the title without making it
disproportionately long. Short, especially if without imprints, can
get many of these into the title; which it is well to do, for a short
note is not economical.
2. To explain the title or correct any misapprehension to which it
might lead. In a popular library the boys take out “The cruise of the
Betsy,” imagining it to be another “Cruise of the Midge.”
3. To direct the attention of persons not familiar with literature to
the best books. The main principles of such annotating are simple.
(_a._) The notes should characterize the best books only; to insert
them under every author would only confuse and weary; if few they
will arrest attention much better. Dull books and morally bad books
should be left in obscurity. Under some of the poorer works which
have attained unmerited popularity a brief protest may be made; it
will probably be ineffectual; but it can do no harm to call Mühlbach
unreliable or Tupper commonplace. (_b._) They should be brief and
pointed. Perhaps after this direction it is necessary to add that they
should be true.
4. To lay out courses of reading for that numerous class who are
desirous of “improving their minds,” and are willing to spend
considerable effort and time but know neither where to begin or how to
go on.
5. To state what is the practice of the catalogue in the entry of the
publications of Congress, Parliament, Academies, Societies, etc., the
notes to be made under those words.