All guidance in this chapter is GPO practice.
Many agencies issue publications that are printed on a single sheet, such as brochures, flyers, and posters. In some cases, an online version of the publication is issued as well.
Cataloging treatment for these resources depends on the frequency of issuance, purpose of cartographic content, and publication format.
Serials-of-Convenience Treatment
Single-sheet publications, and their online versions, may be reissued every few years with only minor editorial changes.
- To determine whether such sheets may be cataloged as serials-of-convenience, see Bibliographic Cataloging: Continuing Resources: Serials: Monographs Cataloged as Serials (“Serials-of-Convenience”).
- Catalog cartographic serial-of-convenience sheets as map serials, following standard RDA practice.
- To determine whether a sheet qualifies as cartographic, see Cartographic Treatment.
- Catalog textual serial-of-convenience sheets as language material continuing resources, following the guidance in Language (Textual) Material Guidance.
- Catalog decorative or pictorial sheets (posters) as visual materials, following the guidance in Bibliographic Cataloging: Audiovisual Resources, 300- Physical Description.
- Catalog cartographic serial-of-convenience sheets as map serials, following standard RDA practice.
Cartographic Treatment
Some sheets, such as brochures and recreation/visitor guides from the National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management, frequently include maps in addition to information about parks, reserves, etc. In the past, GPO cataloged such documents as either language material or maps, according to the relative size and predominance of the map(s) contained within the document.
Current practice:
- If a serial-of-convenience record already exists, do not re-evaluate the original cataloger’s treatment decision.
- When a new bibliographic record is needed:
- Catalog as a map any publication primarily designed to aid in navigation of a location, regardless of the size or placement of the map image within the resource.
- Catalog a document of this type using an OCLC Maps workform, even if other editions of the document were cataloged using the Books workform.
- Catalog a document of this type using an OCLC Maps workform, even if the map is a serial-of-convenience.
- When sheets do not contain maps or contain only location/locator maps, catalog these resources as language material (e.g., books, serials, or integrating resources), using the OCLC Books or Continuing Resources workform.
- A location/locator map indicates the general whereabouts of a site within a region and cannot be used for navigation within that site. See examples below.
- When in doubt, catalog as a map or consult a supervisor.
- Catalog as a map any publication primarily designed to aid in navigation of a location, regardless of the size or placement of the map image within the resource.
- Apply the same decision process to online versions of such publications.
- For instructions on cataloging maps, see Bibliographic Cataloging: Cartographic Materials.
Example:
Location map
Example:
Location map
Poster Treatment
RDA defines a poster as a predominantly visual resource. However, the term “poster” is also used in everyday language to refer to predominantly textual resources, such as conference posters.
- For posters primarily consisting of still images, see Bibliographic Cataloging: Audiovisual Resources, 300- Physical Description.
- For conference posters, and other large sheets primarily consisting of text, see Language (Textual) Material Guidance.
- For cartographic resources, see Bibliographic Cataloging: Cartographic Materials.
- When in doubt, consult a supervisor.
Language (Textual) Material Guidance
MARC uses the term “language material” to refer to “a bibliographic record for an item which is basically textual in nature (whether printed, manuscript, microform, or electronic resource). It is identified by code a (Language material) or t (Manuscript language material) in Leader/06.”
- When sheets, such as brochures and flyers, do not qualify for treatment as posters or maps, catalog them as language material (e.g., books, serials, or integrating resources), using the OCLC Books or Continuing Resources workform.
Tangible Monographs
- Catalog monographic language material sheets at the Basic level.
MARC 300 - Physical Description
ǂa - Extent
- Use “sheet” in 300 ǂa for all single-sheet print publications. Do not use “folded sheet” in 300 ǂa.
- When a single sheet is printed on one side and not folded, record its extent as:
ǂa 1 sheet
- When a single sheet is printed on both sides and not folded, record its extent according to whether the pages are numbered:
ǂa 1 sheet (2 pages)
or
ǂa 1 sheet (2 unnumbered pages)
- When a single sheet is printed on both sides and folded, record its extent as:
ǂa 1 sheet (2 unnumbered pages)
ǂc - Dimensions
- For sheets that are not folded, record the dimensions as height × width.
- e.g., ǂc 28 x 22 cm
- For sheets that are folded, record the height × width when extended, followed by the height × width when folded.
- e.g., ǂc 22 x 28 cm folded to 22 x 10 cm
Example:
Flyer
Side 1:
Side 2:
245 00 PACT Act: understanding VA benefits. ǂp Cold War.
300 ## 1 sheet (2 unnumbered pages) : ǂb color illustrations ; ǂc 28 x 22 cm
Example:
Brochure
Side 1:
Side 2:
245 00 PACT Act: understanding VA benefits.
300 ## 1 sheet (2 unnumbered pages) : ǂb color illustrations ; ǂc 22 x 28 cm folded to 22 x 10 cm
Tangible Serials
MARC 300 - Physical Description
- Always include a 300 field, even for open serials.
ǂa - Extent
- When a serial is not yet complete, or the total number of volumes issued is unknown, record “volumes” without a number (RDA 3.4.1.10).
- e.g., ǂa volumes
- Do not apply the Alternative or the LC-PCC PS for the Alternative in RDA 3.4.1.10.
ǂc - Dimensions
- For sheets that are not folded, record the dimensions as height × width.
- e.g., ǂc 20 x 32 cm
- For sheets that are folded, apply CCM 11.3.2: Record the height × width when extended, followed by the height when folded.
- e.g., ǂc 21 x 34 cm folded to 8 cm
- ǂc is not required but may be recorded if easy to ascertain.
- If the dimensions of a sheet serial change, omit ǂc.
Example:
2013 issue: Brochure
Side 1:
Side 2:
2020 issue: Flyer
Side 1:
Side 2:
245 00 Unwrapping gift cards.
300 ## volumes
ǂc was omitted from the 300 field because the dimensions of the sheet serial changed.
Online Versions of Monographs
When cataloging the online version of a sheet, consult Treatment Decisions for Collections and Analytics. If the online version will be cataloged at the analytic level, apply the MARC guidance below.
MARC 300 - Physical Description
- Record the 300 field following general guidelines for online resources. Do not use “sheet” in the 300 field for an online resource.
- e.g., ǂa 1 online resource (2 unnumbered pages)
Example:
Page 1:
Page 2:
245 00 Contractors lead safety during renovations.
300 ## 1 online resource (2 unnumbered pages) : ǂb color illustrations
856 40 ǂu https://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/gpo107354
Online Versions of Serials
When cataloging the online version of a sheet serial, consult Treatment Decisions for Collections and Analytics. If the serial will be cataloged as a discrete work, apply the MARC guidance below.
MARC 300 - Physical Description
- Record the 300 field following general guidelines for online resources. Do not use “sheet” in the 300 field for an online resource.
- e.g., ǂa 1 online resource (volumes)