[DCRM-L] Tarot decks: "books" or "visual materials"?

[Piscitelli, Felicia A]

Hi Samantha,

Like you, I would regard the cards as the primary material. Thus, I'd catalog them as visual materials, and describe the accompanying booklet in a 300 $e, a 500 note, a 006 and a second 336. (Format integration is a wonderful thing.)

I hope this helps,

Felicia Piscitelli, M.M., M.L.S.
Rare Book and Special Collections Cataloger
Curator, Dawson French Collection
Cushing Memorial Library & Archives
Texas A&M University
f-piscitelli&tamu.edu or f-piscitelli at library.tamu.edu

5000 TAMU | College Station, TX  77843
Tel. 979-458-7880 or 979-845-1951
Fax: 979-845-6238
http://library.tamu.edu


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Cc: Samantha Garlock <sgarlock at colby.edu>
Subject: [DCRM-L] Tarot decks: "books" or "visual materials"?


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Hi all,

I have several tarot decks on my "to be cataloged" shelf, and I can't decide whether to catalog them as "books" or "visual materials." I tried browsing through existing OCLC records to see how other institutions have treated similar materials, but it seems almost evenly split. I also noticed that some records seem to focus on the instructional booklet rather than the actual deck, but others focus on the deck and treat the booklet as an accompanying material. (My instinct is to center the cards rather than the booklet).

So, I decided to ask you all! When you come across tarot decks (or other fortune-telling cards), how do you approach cataloging them? Do you take a different approach if there's an accompanying instructional booklet?

Thanks!

Samantha

--
Samantha Garlock
Collections and Engagement Librarian
Special Collections & Archives
Colby College Libraries
5103 Mayflower Hill
Waterville, ME 04901
Pronouns: she, her
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