Creators
An early printed book may have a number of creators including authors, editors, illustrators, printers and publishers.
Authors should always be recorded in a 100 (see Identifying the main entry name for guidance). Editors, illustrators, printers, publishers and any other named creators should be recorded in a 700.
Authors and/or editors should also be recorded in the the statement of responsibility in a 245 field.
Identifying creators
Names of authors and editors will most commonly be found on the title page.
Printer and publisher names will be found in the imprint or colophon, often also on the title page but sometimes on the last page of the book.
It can sometimes be difficult to distinguish between authors and titles on title pages. Look out for key phrases to identify author names, including:
philosophi et medici excellentissimi [most excellent philosopher and physician]
Author names may be more prominent on title pages or written within the title statement.
Latinised names
Author names are sometimes only printed in a Latinised version. Where possible, both the name as printed and a standardised name should be recorded in the metadata.
The Latinised name should be transcribed in the statement of responsibility (245) and a standardised form matching an authority record should be recorded in the main or added entry (1XX/7XX).
The following resources can help find standardised versions of names:
No creator
If there is no creator listed on the title page, take from another source and add a 500 note detailing where the information has been sourced from.
If it is impossible to identify a creator from another source, do not include a 100 field or |c in the 245.
Anonymous, fictitious or pseudynomous authors
If the author listed on the title page is anonymous, fictitious or pseudonymous but you are able to identify them, transcribe the statement of responsibility from the title page in the 245 but use the correct authority record in the 1XX/7XX.
Also add a 500 note detailing the source of the information (see DCRMR 2.29 for examples of notes on statements of responsibility).
Notes on creators
Notes on creators should be recorded in a 500 field.
Where relevant, the following notes should always be included:
Source of information (if not the title page)
True attribution if the creator listed on item is anonymous, fictitious, pseudynomous or incorrect
Clarification of the creator's role if not clear from the relator term or statement of responsibility
Last updated