The preparation of a catalogue may seem a light task, to the
inexperienced, and to those who are unacquainted with the
requirements of the learned world, respecting such works. In truth,
however, there is no species of literary labor so arduous and
perplexing. The peculiarities of titles are, like the idiosyncracies
of authors, innumerable. Books are in all languages, and treat of
subjects as multitudinous as the topics of human thought.
Liability to error and to confusion is, here, so great and so
continual, that it is impossible to labor successfully, without
a rigid adherence to rules. Although such rules be not formally
enunciated, they must exist in the mind of the cataloguer, and guide
him, or the result of his labors will be mortifying and unprofitable.
In this country, he who undertakes to prepare a catalogue, goes
to the work under great disadvantages, in many respects. Few have
had opportunity to acquire the requisite bibliographical knowledge
and experience; and few libraries contain the necessary books of
reference. A set of rules, therefore, seems peculiarly necessary for
the assistance of librarians.
Minute and stringent rules become absolutely indispensable, when the
catalogue of each library is, as upon the proposed plan, to form part
of a general catalogue. _Uniformity_ is, then, imperative; but, among
many laborers, can only be secured by the adherence of all to rules
embracing, as far as possible, the minutest details of the work.
The rules which follow were drawn up with great care. They are
founded upon those adopted for the compilation of the catalogue of
the British Museum; some of them are, _verbatim_, the same. Others
conform more to rules advocated by Mr. Panizzi, than to those finally
sanctioned by the Trustees of the Museum. Many modifications and
additions have been made, adapted to the peculiar character of the
system now proposed. Some innovations have been introduced, which,
it is hoped, may be considered improvements. The commissioners,
appointed to examine and report upon the catalogue project,
considered not only its general features, but, also, its minute
details. To them, were submitted the rules for cataloguing, which
were separately discussed, and, after having been variously amended
and modified, were recommended for adoption.
It is too much to suppose that any code should provide for every
case of difficulty which may occur. The great aim, here, has been to
establish principles, and to furnish analogies, by which many cases,
not immediately discussed, may be indirectly settled; and, it is
believed, that the instances will be few, which cannot be determined,
by studying the rules, with the remarks under them; and carefully
considering the characteristics of this kind of catalogue.
It should be remembered that a principal object of the rules is to
secure _uniformity_; and that, consequently, some rules, which may
seem unnecessarily burdensome, and, in certain applications, even
capricious, are, all things considered, the best; because they secure
that uniformity, which is not otherwise possible of attainment, and
without which, the catalogues could not be comprehended in a general
system.