Graphic Novels best practice 20180226 Vicki Sipe

Graphic novels can be fiction or non-fiction. There might be text, or not. It might be a single story, a collection of stories, or previously published issues of individual comic books. The common element is that the story is told through sequential art, in comic book fashion.

Graphic novels for Special Collections are generally placed in collection appropriate to genre of the story. Place in Special Collections General if it does not readily fit a collection scope.

                Science Fiction – Rosenfeld

                Maryland History – Arnold

                Photography or Photographers – Bafford

                Biographies – as appropriate to subject of biography

 We routinely add a subject heading to graphic novel bib records to differentiate materials about graphic novels from actual graphic novels. If using an existing bib record for cataloging, add the heading in Aleph. If creating an original, add to the record on OCLC.

                650 _0 Graphic novels $v Specimens.

Guidelines for individual fields in bibliographic records

Fixed fields – the following fields should include the values indicated, edit if necessary

008/24-27  Cont   Nature of Contents

                “6” Comics/graphic novels

008/18-21  Ill   Illustrations

                “a” Illustrations

008/33  LitF  Literary Form

                “1” Fiction if appropriate, not all graphic novels are fiction

                                Default is “0”  not fiction

008/34   Biog  Biography – if appropriate

                “a” autobiography

                “b” individual biography

                “c”  collective biography

                “d”  contains biographical info

                                Default is [blank]

050

PN6700-6790 is available for comic books that do not class in other subject areas (history, biography, etc.)

PN6725-6790 is sub-divided by region or country, and then can be Cuttered by author or works, or by individual comic strips by title. If Cuttered by title, that might be followed by a Cutter for author. 

In this range, prefer a Cutter to title if there is a serial title associated with the item—such as Daredevil, Batman, etc. Shelf list against existing holdings and edit number locally to match. A second Cutter by author might be added.

                PN6728.D33 -- Daredevil

                PN6728.B84 $b G65 -- Buffy the vampire slayer by Golden

                PN6728.B84 $b W48 – Buffy the vampire slayer by Whedon

If based on novels and the author has established number, the graphic novel can be classed with the author number rather than the range for comic books.

100

There might not be a 100—it depends. Generally consider a writer to be the “main entry” in most cases. If there is more than one writer, consider the first listed as the 100.

If there is no text, the artist or illustrator might be considered the 100.  

A relationship designator might be recorded as a code (in $4) or as text (in $e). Most common in the 100 will be $4 aut or $e author, $4 ill or $e illustrator, $4 art or $e artist.

If a creator has more than one role, there might be multiple $4 or $e.

100 1_ DeForge, Michael, $d 1987-  $e artist, $e author

If the graphic novel is an adaptation of another work, the creator of the adaptation will be the 100, and the creator/title of the original will appear in a 700. Will Eisner created a version of Moby Dick. Will Eisner is the 100, and Herman Melville appears in a 700.

100 1_ Eisner, Will.

245 10 Moby Dick / $c by Herman Melville ; adapted by Will Eisner.

700 1_ Melville, Herman, $d 1819-1891. $t Moby Dick.

245

Title—

There often is no “title page.” If the source for the title is anything other than the title page, make a note on the source of the title.

The preferred source for a title in graphic novels and comic books is generally the indicia, often found at the bottom of page two of cover (back side of front cover, inside of front cover) or bottom of the first page. It is in very small letters and contains title (referred to as “true title” by Overstreet), publisher information, numbering information, etc. The indicia is considered to be a “masthead” in cataloging code language, and is often a more stable representation of title than the cover. There are often several variations on a title represented on the cover, etc. These can be included if important for retrieval in 246 fields.

Number—

There is occasionally a number associated with the title that might appear in a 245 $n.

Part—

There is occasionally a title for a part that is associated with the title that might appear in a 245 $p. This title for a part might also appear in a 246 field.  

Statement of responsibility—

The first source for statement(s) of responsibility is generally the same source as the title. Look for the writer, author, artist, cover artist, penciler, colorist, inker, letterer, etc. Record as many as seem appropriate, giving preference to creators of intellectual or artistic content.

If the title is taken from the indicia, the statement(s) of responsibility is unlikely to be found there. Try page two of cover (back side of front cover), first page, etc. As long as the source is inside the item, no brackets or notes are required.

Creators other than the one recorded in a 100 field will appear as 700s.

246

Record variations of the “true title” from places other than the source of title, as noted in the 245 guidance.

264

This information will generally be found in the indicia.

300

Examples:

300  121 pages : $b black-and-white illustrations ; $c 25 cm

300  1 volume (unpaged) : $b chiefly illustrations (some color) ; $c 23 cm

300  32 pages : $b color illustrations ; $c 26 cm

300  32 unnumbered pages : $b color illustrations ; $c 26 cm

3XX fields

Graphic novel with both text and image, should include two 336 fields—one for text, one for still image.

336  text $b txt $2 rdacontent

336  still image $b sti $2 rdacontent

337  unmediated $b n $2 rdamedia

338  volume $b nc $2 rdacarrier

490  

There might be a series title, particularly if the title is related to a serial or series. If it is a 490 1_ there should be a corresponding 800 or 830.

The graphic novel Buffy the vampire slayer, Blood of Carthage is based on the television series Buffy the vampire slayer.

490 1_ Buffy the vampire slayer

830 _0 Buffy the vampire slayer (Television program)

500

--A source of title note if title is not taken from a title page.

500 Title from cover.

500 Title from indicia.

500 Title from page two of cover.

--If the graphic novel is a collection of stories previously published in single issue form, this information should appear in a note.

500 Originally published in single magazine form in Green Lanterns 7-14. 

--If the graphic novel is a collection of stories previously published in single issue form, under several titles, this information should appear in a note.

500 Collecting Amazing fantasy no. 15, The amazing Spider-Man nos. 1-38, and The Fantastic Four annual no. 1.

--If the graphic novel has information about the place of the story in relation to another item, there should be a note.

500 "This story takes place after the events of Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 8, created by Joss Whedon"--Tp verso.

505

A contents note might be used when several different stories, with different creative teams are collected into one graphic novel.

505 00 $t Prelude to shadows / $r writer, Nancy A. Collins ; artist, Cristhian Crizam Zamora ; colorist, John Miele ; letterer, Rob Steen -- $t Lurker in the deep / $r writer, Archie Goodwin ; artist, Jose Gonzalez; colorist, Bear Byte Graphics.

600

When a well-established character appears in the graphic novel, look for a heading that might be added.

600 00 Batman $c (Fictitious character) $v Comic books, strips, etc.

600 00 Joker $c (Fictitious character) $v Comic books, strips, etc.

600 00 Superman $c (Fictitious character) $v Comic books, strips, etc.

600 00 Wonder Woman $c (Fictitious character) $v Comic books, strips, etc.

650

Add 650 _0 Graphic novels $v Specimens. This is a local practice, but is valid LCSH, so it can be added to records on OCLC.

Topical headings should have $v Comic books, strips, etc. on them. There is not, as yet, a $v Graphic novels.

700

Add 700s for as many of the creators as seems appropriate, based on the statement(s) of responsibility or other notes added to the record. Add relationship designators to the headings as appropriate.

700 1_ Zamora, Cristhian Crizam, $e artist.

700 1_ Staples, Fiona, $e illustrator.

700 1_ Miele, John, $e colorist.

700 1_ Steen, Rob, $e letterer.

If the graphic novel is an adaptation of another work, the creator/title of the adapted work will appear in a 700.  See 100 above for Will Eisner example.

700 1_ Melville, Herman, $d 1819-1891. $t Moby Dick.

RDA now also provides derivative work relationships that can be included in the 700 field.

700 1_ $i Graphic novelization of (work): $a Melville, Herman, $d 1819-1891. $t Moby Dick.

800

If a graphic novel is based on a series, and the series has a creator and title, use an 800 to record the creator and title of the series.  

The graphic novel Legend of Drizzt, Homeland is based on book 1 of the series of novels by Salvatore.

800 1_ Salvatore, R. A., $d 1959- $t Legend of Drizzt ; $v bk. I.

830

If the graphic novel is related to a series, and it is recorded in a 490 1_ there will be a corresponding 830.

The graphic novel Buffy the vampire slayer, Blood of Carthage is based on the television series Buffy the vampire slayer.

490 1_ Buffy the vampire slayer

830 _0 Buffy the vampire slayer (Television program)