Print Materials

The title page is the chief source of information for cataloging monographic print materials. Bibliographic fields should be populated using information from the title page before considering information included elsewhere on the piece. The verso (back side) of the title page may be used if the information from the title page is unclear or incomplete.

The cover, spine, and back of the item are all secondary sources. If there isn't a title page, use a secondary source.

Cataloging information obtained from other sources than these should be entered onto the bibliographic record in brackets.

Audio Recordings

The label on the item is the chief source of information for cataloging monographic audio recording materials. If the label doesn't furnish sufficient information, a collective title and information about parts may be taken from accompanying textual materials (a booklet or the container).

DVDs, Videos, or motion pictures

The title frames and credits provide the chief source of information for cataloging DVDs, videos, or motion picture materials. If there are no title frames consult labels on the material, accompanying material, the container or other sources, in that order, for cataloging information.

Electronic Resources (direct or local access)

The title screen(s) from the disk or CD are the chief source of information for cataloging computer files and other electronic materials. If there is no title screen, use other "internal" information such as the main menu or program statements. If the information is not available on a title screen or menu, use the following sources (in order of preference): the physical carrier (the diskette, for example) or its labels, accompanying documentation, or the container in which it came.

Electronic Resources (remote access)

From OCLC's Cataloging Internet Resources: the bibliographic description section 9.0B1:
The chief source of information for computer files available by remote access is the title screen or similar display from the terminal or a printout of that information. If there is no special display, information may be taken from the home page, web page, or file itself: "readme file," "about" screen, TEI (Text Encoding Initiative) header, HTML tagging, documentation file, internal menus, labels, subject line, program statements, etc.

Because Internet resources are available by remote access, accompanying printed documentation is unlikely, though such documentation may be available in an internal file or a separate file. There are no containers with labels containing information. An added complication is that the file may be unreadable until it is decompressed and/or processed in some manner.

If no information is available as listed above, the cataloger may use a title from any published description of, or citation to, the file.

A file name may be used, if there is no other title given.

If no information is available from any source, the cataloger must supply a title.

The source of the title is stated in a required note in the bibliographic record being created.