"Bibliographic Standards Committee, Rare Books and Manuscripts Section, Association of College and Research Libraries, American Library Association."

This practical book is a detailed guide to various databases and computer services worldwide that provide access to medieval manuscripts. Covering everything from First Century Latin texts and ancient Greek manuscripts to medieval and Renaissance mathematical studies, Bibliographic Access to Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts provides thorough descriptions of electronic cataloging methods and the databanks either in progress or in existence that include these manuscripts. Five independent systems of cataloging these materials with computers and PCs are explained and evaluated in detail. This thorough volume features a discussion of the difficulties of using MARCs and AMCs to handle manuscript descriptions for which they were not designed and offers new ideas for meeting the needs of individual users and the needs of libraries networking through computer systems. Authoritative contributors include international experts in the use of computers for humanistic research and prominent scholars in the history of science and mathematics, medieval history and literature, and cartography. The helpful chapters contain valuable information on computer systems created to function as information retrieval catalogs for book descriptions in readable formats. Researchers will appreciate the practical advice for locating and using manuscripts and rare books in libraries. Archivists and rare collections librarians will find this a helpful and in-depth tool in finding information on successful cataloging and access to medieval sources.

Third in direct descent from Bibliographic Description of Rare Books (BDRB) -- from preface.

Gura catalogues and describes the 288 medieval and Renaissance manuscripts held by the University of Notre Dame and Saint Mary's College.

For application of the most current Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, there is but one standard: Maxwell's Handbook for AACR2. This practical and authoritative cataloging how-to, now in its Fourth Edition, has been completely revised inclusive of the 2003 update to AACR2. Designed to interpret and explain AACR2,Maxwell illustrates and applies the latest cataloging rules to the MARC record for every type of information format. Focusing on the concept of integrating resources, where relevant information may be available in different formats, the revised edition also addresses the Program for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC) and the cataloging needs of electronic books and digital reproductions of physical items such as booksand maps. From books and pamphlets to sound recordings, music, manuscripts, maps,and more, this is the most comprehensive and straightforward guide to interpreting and applying standard cataloging rules. Learn: How and when to apply the rules What has changed in MARC21 coding How the rules help organize descriptive and bibliographic information What are uniform titles for unusual formats or materials How to select access points Extensive updates have resulted in all-new chapters covering cartographic materials, electronic resources, and continuing resources (formerly called serials). Illustrated with over 490 figures, showing actual MARC catalog records, this is the must-have AACR2 guide for catalogers, LIS students, and cataloging instructors.