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Title

 

 

 

Element Name

Title

 

Definition

The name given to the resource

 

Where can the Title Information be Found?

Item Type Information Sources
For text
  • title page (use the title page unless there isn't one)
  • cover
For images
  • title written on the back of a photograph
  • captions
  • envelope, slip cover, or case
For maps
  • title caption on map
  • notes around the outside of the map
For music scores
  • title page
  • top of first page
For videos
  • title screen(s)
  • label on disc
  • container cover
For sound files
  • title on disc/cassette
  • container information
For computer files
  • title page/screen
  • title at top of document
  • title in HTML header

In some cases the title may come from accompanying or supplementary information.

 

How Title Works in the Metadata Form

Parts:
1. Title qualifier -- drop-down menu
2. Title -- text field
Repeatable?
Yes - to include multiple titles, click 'Add' to repeat all field parts

 

How Should the Title be Filled in?

General Title Rules

  • Every record should have a Main Title, also called an 'official title'
  • Some records may have multiple titles (see below, under "Special Titles" for more clarification about when to use other titles)
  • For each title, be sure to choose the appropriate qualifier from the controlled vocabulary

 

Guideline Example
  • Write out the title the way it appears
  • Do not put the call number, file name, or other identification numbers in the title
Reminiscences of the Terry Rangers
  • Capitalize the first word and proper nouns
  • Keep other capitalization the same as it is found on the item
  • If the title is taken from a catalog, copy the capitalization from the record
  • Use the same capitalization for all titles in a record
 Difficulties of a Mexican revenue officer in Texas
  • Change Roman numerals to Arabic numbers
    (Add a note with the Roman numerals)
  • Write out numbers through 100
(An alternate title can be added if the numbers are important to the title)
 Title: Laws of the Republic of Texas, in two volumes. Volume 1
Note: "Volume I."

Two Ladies in Beauty Shop
  • Write out abbreviations or acronyms
(An alternate title with the abbreviations may be added)
 Main: Documents pertaining to the case of Eliza Miller vs. Texas & New Orleans Railroad Company, cause no. 547, 1902
Alternate: Documents pertaining to the case of Eliza Miller vs. T & NORR Co.
  • Separate titles and subtitles with a colon
Deaf Smith county Schools: 1893-2003
  • Add commas to separate long titles
  • Separate parts with periods if they are used in the item
Remains of Judge Baylor Re-Interred, Now Rests in Soil of Baylor Campus at Belton: Impressive Ceremonies Participated In by Leading Baptists of State. Houston Relatives Were in Attendance
  • It is preferred that titles include more than a personal name only (for portraits or items that do not have titles), e.g. "John J. Moore"
  • In cases where an item has been given a title that is only a proper name (except for books or published texts), create a more descriptive title in brackets (the original title can be an alternate or added title if it is important to include it)

[Photograph of Ronald D. Smith]

[Portrait of Susan R. Theodore]

[Obituary for l. M. Cummings]
If the items are related to court cases:
  • Include the cause number and date (if known)
Documents pertaining to the case of Garner Williams & Co. vs. J. E. Ennis, cause no. 507, 1867
If there is no title:
  • Use a title for the item found in a library catalog or similar resource (including OCLC Worldcat)
  • Create one; it must be enclosed in [square brackets] and should be both succinct and descriptive
 [Calf-Roping in Groups at Cowtown Coliseum]

 

Special Titles

Does the item need multiple titles?

If... Add:
  • The title has alternate spellings, omissions, abbreviations, or acronyms
an alternate title
  • The item is in a foreign language
  • The item is a translation from another language
a parallel title
  • The item has multiple versions of a title listed in different places
(for example, different titles on the title page, cover, and spine of a book)
 an added title
 
  • The item is a serial publication
(multiple issues published under the same title including yearbooks, journals, magazines, etc.)
  • The item is a serial with a different title on the title page
a serial title
an added title (for the title on the title page)
  • The item is part of a series
(items or objects with different titles that are related to one another)
 a series title
  • The item is a single page/article from a larger whole
a series title
  •  The item has also been published under other titles
 a uniform title

 

Guideline Example
If the item is part of a serial
  • Keep the format of the main title the same for each issue/item
  • Include the title, volume/issue numbers, and dates in the main title
  • Add a serial title that represents the entire publication
  • Add the title from the title page as an 'added title' when relevant
 Main: Prickly Pear, Yearbook of Abilene Christian College, 1945
Serial: Prickly Pear
Added: The 1945 Prickly Pear

Main: Experiment Station Record, Volume 1, September 1889-July 1890
Serial: Experiment Station Record
If the item is part of a series or a part of a larger whole
  • Use the title on the item (or an appropriately created unique title)
  • Add a series title that represents the entire series
 Main: Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, Front Cover
Series: Things in and about San Antonio

Main: [Glass with a picture of an oil well]
Series: Commemorative glasses
If the item is in a foreign language
  • Add a parallel title with the English translation (if known)

If the item is a translation into English

  • Add a parallel title with the original, foreign language title

  • If the translation is not included on the item, enclose the parallel title in [square brackets]
Main: Estado libre de Coahuila y Tejas
Parallel: [Free State of Coahuila and Texas]

Main: The Mexican Soldier, 1837-1847
Parallel: El Soldado Mexicano, 1837-1847
If the item title has abbreviations, acronyms or alternate spellings
  • Write out full words in the main title
  • Add an alternate title with the abbreviations
  • If the acronym is well-known it can be used in the main title with the fuller version in the alternate title
Main: Documents pertaining to the case of Eliza Miller vs. Texas and New Orleans Railroad Company, cause no. 547, 1902
Alternate: Documents pertaining to the case of Eliza Miller vs. T & NORR Co.

Main: FCC Record, Volume 12, No. 20, Pages 11370 to 11956, July 28-August 8, 1997
Alternate: Federal Communications Commission Record, Volume 12, No. 20, Pages 11370 to 11956, July 28-August 8, 1997
If the item has multiple titles or sections
  • Use the title on the title page of the text, or the most inclusive title as the main title
  • Include other titles, if relevant, as added titles
Main: A Memorial and Biographical History of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon Counties, Texas
Added: The Lone Star State

Main: Visiting people on a dairy farm.
Added: Cut out your own cow.
If the same item has been published under multiple titles
  • Use the title on the item as the main title
  • Add a generic uniform title that represents all of them
Main: Six suites for violoncello solo
Uniform: Suites, violoncello, BMV 1007-1012

Main: 1980 census of population and housing. Census tracts. Abilene, Tex., standard metropolitan statistical area.
Uniform: Census of population and housing (1980). Census tracts.

 

Other Examples

 

City directory
 Main: Morrison & Fourmy's General Directory of the City of Austin, 1893-94
Government publication
Main: Depository libraries: hearings before the Subcommittee on the Library of the Committee on Rules and Administration, United States Senate, Eighy-seventh Congress, second session, on S. 2029 and H. R. 8141, to revise the laws relating to depository libraries. March 15 and 16, 1962.
Untitled photograph
 Main: [Look-out Tower at Fort Davis]
Journal issue 

Main: Chemical Literature, Volume 1, Number 1, November, 1949
Serial: Chemical Literature

Military training materials

Main: Moisture and Clouds
Alternate: Programed Text AM-26, June 1971

Musical Score in French
Main: Nouvelles Poesies Morales sur Les Plus Beaux Airs de la Musique Francoise et Italienne avec la Basse.: Fables Choisies Dans le gout de M. De La Fontaine, Sur des Vaudevilles & petits Airs aisés à chanter, avec leur Basse & une Basse en Musette. Recueil I. 6 liv. broché.
Parallel: [New Moral Poems based on the Most Beautiful Songs of the French and Italian Music, with Bass: Fables Chosen according to the taste of M. De La Fontaine, based on Vaudevilles & little Airs to be sung, with [Basso continuo].]
Added: Nouvelles Poesies Spirituelles et Morales Sur Les Plus Beaux Airs de la Musique Francoise et Italienne, Avec la Basse. Recueil II.
Added: Nouvelles Poesies Morales sur Les Plus Beaux Airs de la Musique Francoise et Italienne avec la Basse. Recueil III.
Added: Nouvelles Poesies Morales sur Les Plus Beaux Airs de la Musique Francoise et Italienne avec la Basse. Recueil IV.
Added: Nouvelles Poesies Morales sur Les Plus Beaux Airs de la Musique Francoise et Italienne avec la Basse. Recueil V.
Added: Nouvelles Poesies Morales sur Les Plus Beaux Airs de la Musique Francoise et Italienne avec la Basse. Recueil VI.
Added: Nouvelles Poesies Morales sur Les Plus Beaux Airs de la Musique Francoise et Italienne avec la Basse. Recueil VII.
World War II newsmap
Main: Newsmap. Monday, June 14, 1943 : week of June 3 to June 10, 196th week of the war, 78th week of U.S. participation
Added: The Making of a U.S. Bluejacket.
Hand-carved cross
Main: [Wooden Cross]
US Geological Survey map
Main:  Map of the Woodbine Artesian Reservoirs of the Black and Grand Prairies of Texas including the Eastern and Western Cross Timbers

Comments

Glossary of title types:

Code Type Definition
officialtitle
 Main Title
 The most appropriate title to represent the individual item
alternatetitle Alternate Title
 Reflects alternate spellings, terms, or omissions (including abbreviations, acronyms, and enumerations)
paralleltitle Parallel Title
 Used for items written in foreign languages or translations from a second language
serialtitle Serial Title
 Represents an entire serial publication
seriestitle Series Title
 Represents an entire series of separate but related items
uniformtitle Uniform Title
 Used when an item has been published under different titles
addedtitle Added Title
 Reflects additional titles or significant subsections

 

Resources


This page is maintained by Hannah Tarver — last modified Monday, November 16, 2009. 08:04 PM
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