Cataloging and digitizing ephemera: One team's experience with Pennsylvania German broadsides and Fraktur

Ann Copeland, Susan Hamburger, John Hamilton, Kenneth J. Robinson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

The growing interest in ephemera collections within libraries will necessitate the bibliographic control of materials that do not easily fall into traditional categories. This paper discusses the many challenges confronting catalogers when approacing a mixed collection of unique materials of an ephemeral nature. Based on their experience cataloging a collection of Pennsylvania German broadsides and Fraktur at the Pennsylvania State University, the authors describe the process of deciphering handwriting, preserving genealogical information, deciding on cataloging approaches at the format and field level, and furthering access to the materials through digitization and the Encoded Archival Description finding aid. Observations are made on expanding the skills of traditional book catalogers to include manuscript cataloging, and on project management.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)186-198
Number of pages13
JournalLibrary Resources and Technical Services
Volume50
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2006

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Information Systems
  • Library and Information Sciences

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