Understanding Main Entry in Library Cataloging

In library cataloging, the main entry is the primary access point chosen to represent a work. It is typically the author, but can also be a title or a corporate body depending on the nature of the work and the cataloging rules used. Other access points, such as titles of parts, other authors, or subjects, are called added entries. The question asks for the access point for the main entry according to AACR-11 (referring to AACR2 principles).

Analyzing the Title Page Information

The title page describes a book containing three distinct parts, each with its own title and author:

• Buildings / by Ralph E. Ellsworth
• Shelving / by Louis Kaplan
• Strange Warehouses / by Jerrold Orne

This structure suggests a collection of works or parts by different authors, potentially issued together without a single overarching collective title for the entire volume. The title page lists the parts sequentially.

Applying AACR2 Rules for Shared Responsibility

According to cataloging rules like those found in AACR2 (Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, 2nd edition), when a work consists of contributions by different persons and lacks a collective title covering the entire work, the main entry is usually made under the heading for the person or body named first on the title page. Additional access points (added entries) are made for the other contributors and the titles of the individual parts.

In this case, the first named author on the title page is Ralph E. Ellsworth, associated with the part titled "Buildings".

Forming the Access Point

For a personal author, the access point (heading) is typically formulated by inverting the name: surname followed by forename(s) or initial(s). The standard form for Ralph E. Ellsworth would be "Ellsworth, Ralph E."

Determining the Correct Main Entry Access Point

Based on the analysis and application of cataloging principles for works of shared responsibility without a collective title:

1. The work has distinct contributions by multiple authors.
2. There is no explicit collective title for the entire volume indicated.
3. The first named author is Ralph E. Ellsworth.

Therefore, the main entry should be under the first named author, Ralph E. Ellsworth. The correct access point for this main entry is the inverted form of his name.

The rules dictate that the main entry is under the first author listed when contributions are distinct and no collective title is present. This is Ralph E. Ellsworth.

The access point for the main entry will be the standardized form of Ralph E. Ellsworth's name, which is Ellsworth, Ralph E.

Conclusion

The access point for the main entry for the given book, according to AACR2 principles for works of shared responsibility without a collective title, is the first named author, Ralph E. Ellsworth, formatted as "Ellsworth, Ralph E."

Revision Table: Key Concepts in Cataloging

Additional Information: AACR2 and Access Points

AACR2 (Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, 2nd edition) provides detailed rules for describing library materials and determining access points. The goal is to create consistent catalog records that allow users to find the information they need efficiently. The choice of main entry is crucial because it often determines where the primary record for the work is filed (in older card catalogs) and how it is primarily displayed and searched in modern systems.

When a work has multiple authors, AACR2 rules consider factors like whether the work is a collaboration, whether responsibility is shared equally, whether contributions are distinct, and whether a collective title exists. For works with distinct parts by different authors without a collective title, placing the main entry under the first author listed is a standard practice to provide a logical primary access point based on the presentation on the title page.