Here are the revised instructions to SLC cataloguers concerning
RDA abbreviations (with appreciation to Thomas). Notice that
the appendix numbers refer to AACR2 Appendix B, not RDA.
Mac
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ABBREVIATIONS
In general, do not use Appendix B abbreviations in transcription.
Transcribe abbreviations as found in item, e.g., "ed.", but give in
full if "edition" in item. In Area 5 (Physical description),
"pages", "volumes", "illustrations", etc. are written in full.
The following abbreviations continue to be used in uniform titles,
Area 5 (Physical Description), and Area 7 (Notes):
centimeters cm
centimenters per second cm/s
feet per second fps
hour(s) hr.
kilometers km
inches in.
inches per second ips
meters m
millimeters mm
milimeters per second m/s
minutes min.
number no.
numbers nos.
opus op.
revolution per minute rpm
seconds sec.
Note that metric symbols have no periods (nor have rpm, ips).
Other areas in which abbreviations are used:
Series added entry number area, in order to standardize filing.
A.D. and B.C for dates in headings (mainly personal name headings).
Uniform title "etc." in "Protocols, etc.", "Laws, etc." and
"Treaties, etc."
Jurisdiction qualifiers with place names in headings, including
the jurisdictional part of a corporate body (government) heading, a
conference heading, or place name in headings giving places
associated with persons, families, and corporate bodies.
Music headings giving medium of performance, e.g., S, A, T, and
B for two or more vocal parts; numeric designations such as serial
numbersand opus number, e.g., "op." and "no."; but give in full
"arranged","unaccompanied", and "accompaniment".
In sum:
Transcribed elements are given as found.
Other elements, with exceptions below, generally do not abbreviate words.
For dimensions, extent of storage space, duration, numbering of part,
and some map and music elements, use Appendix B.9.
For names of places as jurisdictional qualifiers, use abbreviations in
Appendix B.14.
Other specific abbreviations include A.D., B.C.; Laws, etc.; Treaties, etc.;
Protocols, etc.
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__ __ J. McRee (Mac) Elrod ([email protected])
{__ | / Special Libraries Cataloguing HTTP://www.slc.bc.ca/
___} |__ \__________________________________________________________
