EPB Tracts
Variations in standard procedure when tackling EPB/T
Tracts are small pamphlets and essays presenting an argument. In the EPB Tracts collection at Wellcome these items have been bound together with some volumes containing over 100 separate items.
When trying to identify the different items, follow the guidance in the procedural manual regarding boundwiths e.g monitoring changes in pagination, checking the physical description on the bibliographic field etc. The tracts are often numbered in the top right hand corner of the title page but do not rely on this. It is often easier to identify a good chunk of items and marking them with bits of paper first rather than searching as you inventory.
If you come across an item record which does not match the physical item, mark the item as 'missing' and add a Bibliographic Enhancement macro with a note highlighting that this item is not part of the boundwith. If it looks to be a duplicate record of another item, add an Extensive update macro, as it will need cross-checking and deleting, and a note suggesting it is a duplicate record.
Use a B-sized flag for the Tracts. You only need one per book. When writing flags separate the shelf mark out e.g. top row EPB/T/1234. and the number of items just below it e.g. 1-18. This makes the overall number clearer and easier to read.
If all items are pre-1851: follow the usual catalogued/uncatalogued procedure. If an item is uncatalogued and sits between numbers, use letters e.g. if you spot an uncatalogued item between .13 and .14, it will have the shelfmark .13a
If all items are post-1851: make a note on the post-1851 tracts spreadsheet with the shelfmark and number of items. Give the book a new flag with its shelfmark. Remove the 'includes post-1850 uncatalogued material' label. [Update: as of May 2022, a decision was made that any post-1851 material in the EPB Tracts would be considered as part of the full inventory. All items in the post-1851 spreadsheet were transferred to the Uncatalogued EPB spreadsheet and future finds were treated as core]
If items are a mix of pre- and post-1851 material: add all uncatalogued material to the Uncatalogued EPB spreadsheet but in the note column add a note to say the item is post-1851.
When trying to identify if an item is pre-1851, if there is no date on the imprint, look within the text, footnotes or for a note at the end of the text for clues. For the inventory we include items dated 1850 but not those dated 1851.
No shelfmark should contain a range of numbers e.g. EPB/T/18.8-9. If you come across one of these, correct the shelfmark to a single number and try to ascertain why the range was given. For the example EPB/T/18.8-9, the physical description suggested that .9 was actually issued with .8 and not a separate item. In this case, add a Bibliographic Enhancement Required macro. Do not adjust succeeding numbers to account for the fact that .9 does not exist as a separate item. If the Sierra record had suggested that .9 was a separate item, it should be added to the uncatalogued spreadsheet. Add the previous shelfmark as a former location.
Some tracts contain handwritten pamphlets. In the past, these have been catalogued as part of the archive and manuscripts collection on CALM. If you come across them, make sure they have the correct Tracts shelfmark, make the MS. number a former location and change the location in the item record to EPB Tracts. If they are uncatalogued add them to the spreadsheet. Please make a note of any you come across as these will need to be assessed at a later date.
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