Bibliographic Cataloging: Braille

Braille Publications Treated as Serials

GPO Practice

• Braille publications may be treated as serials-of-convenience. For more information, see Monographs Cataloged as Serials ("Serials-of-Convenience").
• When cataloging a braille publication as a serial-of-convenience:
  • Transcribe the jacket number of an ‘issue’ in its item-level record
    • Use the “OPAC Note” field

PCC Authentication

• Authenticate records for braille expressions as PCC when they fulfill PCC requirements and conform to the following guidelines.

Authorized Access Point

• Match the authorized access point (AAP) for a braille expression to an RDA-compatible AAP for the work, as found in the record for the original print version. Detailed instructions for formulating RDA-compatible AAPs are available to GPO staff in the internal training document, Authorized Access Points (AAPs) for Works & Expressions
  • Special note for National Park Service (NPS) maps and brochures:
    • Match braille expressions of NPS maps and brochures to the original print versions by comparing the GPO jacket numbers for the publications.
      • Jacket numbers can be found in:
        • MARC 500 fields of bibliographic records for monographs (in the CGP or OCLC)
        • Item record OPAC notes for serials (in the CGP)
    • When no matching jacket number is found in an original print version record, but the braille publication fits the bibliographic description of an existing serial-of-convenience:
      • Treat the braille publication as a new ‘issue’ of the existing work.
        • Once a connection has been established between the serial-of-convenience records for original print and braille versions of NPS works, assess subsequent braille ‘issues’ according to standard serial cataloging policy.
    • When no jacket number match is found, and the braille publication received does not appear to be a new issue of an existing serial-of-convenience:
      • Catalog the braille publication as a new work, with a unique authorized access point.
• In the bibliographic record for a braille expression, add the following at the end of a 130 or 240 field:

  • ǂh Tactile text  

  • (Note: There is no period at the end of 240. A period must be added at the end of 130.)

Edition Statement