Contributor

Definition

A person, agency, or organization that has played an important but secondary role in creating the content of the resource and is not specified in the creator element.

Where Can the Contributor Information be Found?

In some cases, contributors may come from accompanying or supplementary information, but they may also be found on:

Item Types

Information Sources

For text

  • title page

  • cover

  • end of document

  • copyright statement

  • acknowledgments

For images

  • notes on bottom or back of a photograph

  • envelope, slip cover, or case

For maps

  • statement in a caption

  • notes around the outside of the map

For music scores

  • title page or header

  • top of page

  • table of contents

For videos

  • label on disc

  • container cover

  • title screen(s) or credits

For sound files

  • information on disc/cassette

  • container information

For computer files

  • title page/screen

  • statement in a header/footer

How Contributor Works in the Metadata Form

Screenshot of contributor element in metadata editing system.
Parts:

  1. Contributor name – text field

  2. Contributor type – drop-down menu

  3. Contributor role – drop-down menu

  4. Contributor information – text field

Repeatable?

Yes - to include multiple contributors, click ‘Add’ to repeat all field parts

Required?

No (more information)

How Should the Contributor be Filled in?

General Contributor Rules

  • If no contributor information is readily available, leave the field blank

  • Only include individuals/organizations who had secondary responsibility for the item, or who were only responsible for a portion of the work

    • Primary “contributors” should be entered as creators instead

      • A name should never be entered as both a creator and a contributor; if an agent acts in multiple capacities, see the Role section for clarification

      • For more information about when a person/organization is a creator or a contributor, see our definition page

    • An entity must have a direct relationship to the item that can be explicated in order to be included as a contributor

      • If there is information about a person/organization that cannot be expressed as a role, it may be appropriate to add it elsewhere, such as a Note or Info in relation to an established contributor

  • Include as many contributors as are readily available

    • Place them in order of importance

    • If contributors are equally important, list them in the order that they appear

    • If a document has an excessively large number of creators or authors (e.g., several hundred researchers) include the parent organizations as creators and the individual persons as contributors

  • For each contributor the name, type, and role are required

  • If possible, consult an authority file to find the correct form of the name, such as:

  • Note that organizational names generally reflect the name of the agency at the time the item was created – e.g., Texas (Republic) vs. Texas, or North Texas State University vs. University of North Texas – however, if possible, personal names will generally reflect a single, most current version when multiple names (initials, maiden names, etc.) are known to be used by a specific person

Contributor Names

Personal Names

Guideline

Examples

If known, use the authorized form of the name from the Library of Congress Authorities

Agapkin, Vasiliĭ Ivanovich, 1884-1964

If no authorized version is available, enter the most complete version of the name that is known using proper formatting:

  1. Invert names (Last, First, Middle)

McCaleb, Walter Flavius

  1. Use initials if the full name(s) are not known

Henderson, Charles V.

  1. Do not change the order of names

Mitchell, A. Cameron

  1. Use spaces between initials

Blackburn, J. K. P.

  1. Separate hyphenated first names with a hyphe instead of a space if only initials are known

Fang, H.-C.

  1. Put additional middle names after the first name

Sonneck, Oscar George Theodore

  1. Keep hyphenated “last names” and compound surnames together
Ala’i-Rosales, Shahla S.
Martinez Fischer, Ferdinand Frank

  1. Consider multiple parts (von, de la, etc.) as part of the last name

de Almeida Lobo, Adriana

  • If it is unclear which part of the name is the surname, enter the name as it appears on the item

Use appropriate abbreviations:

  1. Only include known titles (Dr., Rev., Capt., etc.) before the first name if:

    • The title is necessary for clarification of the name (e.g., if the given name for a married woman is unknown)

    • The title is the only part of the name known (aside from a surname)

  • Hastings, Mrs. F. S.

  • Jones, Dr.

  1. Include suffixes that are a part of the name (Jr., Sr., etc.) at the end of the name after a second comma

Williams, J. F. C., Jr.

  • Do not include:

    • nicknames

    • abbreviations

    • titles that do not fit the criteria above

    • job or educational qualifiers (C.E., D.D.S., Ph.D., etc.)
Name: Alwin, Lawrence F.
Info: CPA; State Auditor

  • Some common historical personal name abbreviations:

    • Chas. = Charles

    • Geo. = George

    • Jas. = James

    • Jno. = John

    • Thos. = Thomas

    • Wm. = William

  • Alternate versions and omitted information may be added to the “info” section
Name: Dunlap, George P.
Info: Geo. P. Dunlap

  • If the same person is responsible for multiple items:

    • Enter the name as consistently as possible in every record

    • Use the fullest form of the name that is available

  • If the name changes and it is certainly the same person:

    • Use the later/most current version

    • Include the former name in the info section if that version is used in the text

  • When in doubt, enter the name as it appears on the item
Name: Gaines, Ann
Info: Ann Sanders

  • Only include the names of specific persons (or organizations)

  • In cases where the name is not known (e.g., “Staff Photographer”), either:

    • Leave the contributor field blank

    • Include the name of the parent organization and add details in the “info” section
Name: Associated Press
Info: Staff Photographer

Organization Names

Guideline

Examples

Geological Survey (U.S.)

For non-government or single-level bodies:

  • Use the name as it appears in the item

Camp Wolters Public Relations Branch

  • Do not invert personal names that are parts of organizational names

Julis Bien & Co.

  • Write out names rather than using acronyms
Name: New York University
Info: NYU

For hierarchical agencies or entities:

  • List agency or body parts in hierarchical order, starting at the highest level and ending with the most specific

University of Texas. Bureau of Research in the Social Sciences.

  • Separate the elements of the hierarchy with periods

Osk Ridge National Laboratory. Chemical Technology Division.

  • Preface the name of government agencies with the name of the country or state

Martin County (Fla.). Board of Commissioners.

  • If a hierarchy is unclear, record the name as it appears on the item

For United States agencies:

  • Spell out “United States” unless there is an authorized version that abbreviates it

  • United States. Navy. Training Division. Bureau of Aeronautics.

  • U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey

  • In the case of a long (well-known) name, it may be shortened by eliminating unnecessary parts

    • For example, the Library of Congress Authorities often omit upper-level intermediary divisions, such as the secondary level in “United States. National Security Council. Central Intelligence Agency.”

United States. Central Intelligence Agency.

For non-U.S. agencies:

  • When using an authorized form of the name, it may be appropriate to add notes to the “info” section:

    • If the name is written in a language other than English, add the English translation (if known)

    • If the name is written in English, additional forms from the item may be added
Name: Han’guk Kich’o Kwahak Chiwŏn Yŏn’guwŏn
Info: Korea Basic Science Institute; Taejon, Republic of Korea

Instituto de Investigaciones Geológicas (Chile)

  • If there is no authorized form, follow general formatting rules

Mexico. Secretaría de la Economia Nacional Direccion General de Minas y Petoleo.

Contributor Type

  • Choose the appropriate contributor type:

Guideline

Examples

If the contributor is an individual

Personal

If the contributor is a company, organization, association, agency, or other institution

Organization

If it is unclear whether the contributor name belongs to an individual or an organization, use “Personal” and format the name appropriately

  • (If it is important to document or clarify this choice, use a Non-Display Note)

  • In some rare and very specific cases, other options may apply:

Guideline

Examples

If the contributor is a conference or other event that produces papers and materials (as an entity rather than named individual participants or a hosting organization)

  • For example: a statement drafted by all members of a symposium or conference as part of the activities of the meeting

  • There are other ways to represent an event related to the creation of an item, such as Source, when the event itself is not the contributor

Event

If the contributor is a computer program that generates data or files independently

  • E.g.: an automatically-generated file created while a computer program was running

Software

Contributor Role

Entering Roles

Guideline

Examples

If the role is not listed:

  • Choose “Other”

  • Include clarification in the “Info” section
Name: Caffey, Wiley L.
Role: Other
Info: Business Manager

If more than one role applies to the contributor:

  • Choose the primary or most encompassing role (or the one listed first)

  • Explain the details in the info section
Name: Etter, Amanda Perez
Role: Editor
Info: Managing Editor; Sponsor

Assigning Roles

  • Although the same list of roles is available for both creators and contributors, some roles will generally only apply to contributors:

    • Agents who only had responsibility for a part, e.g., author of introduction, etc.; witness; consultant; expert

    • Agents who had an indirect relationship, e.g., funder, sponsor, former owner, donor

    • Additional explanation is on our contributor and contributor definition page

  • The role should describe the action that the agent took in creating the item and it may not align with job titles or credentials, for example:

Agents

Role

Field

Example

“Director”

director of a performance (film, play, concert, etc.)

Director

Creator
Name: Homer, Paula
Type: Personal
Role: Director
Info: UNT Opera Theater

executive director of an agency with no apparent personal contribution to the item

n/a

Creator
Name: Texas. Department of Transportation.
Type: Organization
Role: Author
Info: Phil Wilson, Executive Director

executive director of an agency with a described or understandable role (e.g., author of transmittal letter)

Author of introduction, etc.

(or another appropriate role)

Contributor
Name: Camargo, Gene
Type: Personal
Role: Author of introduction, etc.
Info: Director of Building Inspections

“Performer”

  • musician in a recital or concert

  • actor in a play or movie

Performer

Creator
Name: North Texas Wind Symphony
Type: Organization
Role: Performer

a person/organization that “performed” work or research (aside from, or in addition to, specific person/s who authored a report or created some product of the work)

Originator, Researcher, or another appropriate role

Creator
Name: Quigg, Antonietta Salvatrice
Type: Personal
Role: Author

Contributor
Name: Texas Water Development Board
Type: Organization
Role: Originator

“Consultant”

a consulting company or person that authors a report

Author

Creator
Name: Kerley, Gerald Irwin
Type: Personal
Role: Author
Info: Kerley Technical Consultant, Appomattox, VA

  • a consultant who provide information as a contribution to a report

  • a consultant who spoke during recorded/transcribed proceedings (could also be an “expert” or “witness” depending on the context)

Consultant

Contributor
Name: Kanto, Leonard E.
Type: Personal
Role: Consultant
Info: State of Texas Professional Engineer; Consultant Engineer

Contributor Info

  • Info is not required as part of the contributor entry

  • This field is only for information about the contributor listed in or directly related to the object

  • The info field is not intended for biographies or lengthy descriptions of the agent

  • It is not necessary to do research to find information; this field is only used for readily-available notes

Guideline

Examples

  • Include information that clarifies the role of the contributor, e.g.:

    • For composers, the name of the piece(s)

    • For journals or compiled documents, the title(s) of pieces authored by the contributor

  • Consulting Engineer

  • Trio for Piano, Violin and Cello in C Major, K. 548 (1788)

  • Baby Lore: The Why and Wherefore of It

  • Include other relevant information known about the contributor that relates to the object, such as:

    • Additional forms of the contributor’s name

    • Addresses

    • Birth and death dates (not part of an authorized name)

    • Organizational affiliations

    • Other information associated with the name

  • Judge Sam’l A. Roberts

  • LMSW; Manager, Purchased Health Services Unit

  • Houston, Texas

  • For an agency, the info may include:

    • Persons associated with the organization who did not have another role (e.g., directors)

    • Acronyms, abbreviations, or alternative name forms

    • Additional omitted hierarchical components (e.g., for some federal agencies)

  • CEA

  • U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines

  • There are no strict formatting requirements for info, but here are some suggestions:

    • List each name, fact, or statement individually and separate them with semicolons or periods

    • Use sentence form when relevant, or when taken directly from the item

    • Quotation marks may be used when quoting information directly from the item

  • Rev. R. G. Mood, M.A., D.D. ; Secretary and Editor of the North Texas Conference

  • “Under Four Flags on Texas Soil, By A. Garland Adair, Editor, The Mexia Daily News”

Other Examples:

Book

  • Name: Ben C. Jones & Co.

  • Type: Organization

  • Role: Printer

  • Information: “Printers, Electrotypers and Binders, Austin.”

Yearbook

  • Name: Richards, Olan

  • Type: Personal

  • Role: Editor

  • Information: Art Editor


  • Name: American Beauty Cover Company

  • Type: Organization

  • Role: Artist


  • Name: Abilene Printing and Stationery Company

  • Type: Organization

  • Role: Printer


  • Name: Thurman’s Studio

  • Type: Organization

  • Role: Photographer


  • Name: Southwest Engraving Company

  • Type: Organization

  • Role: Engraver

Journal issue

  • Name: Baldwin, Dan

  • Type: Personal

  • Role: Editor

  • Information: Assistant Editor


  • Name: Riddle, Peggy

  • Type: Personal

  • Role: Editor

  • Information: Assistant Editor

Research report

  • Name: Texas Water Development Board

  • Type: Organization

  • Role: Sponsor


  • Name: Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (Tex.)

  • Type: Organization

  • Role: Funder


  • Name: Upper Guadalupe River Authority

  • Type: Organization

  • Role: Funder


  • Name: Headwaters Groundswater Conservation District

  • Type: Organization

  • Role: Consultant


  • Name: Cow Creek Groundwater Conservation District

  • Type: Organization

  • Role: Consultant


  • Name: Kendall County Water Control and Improvement District #1

  • Type: Organization

  • Role: Consultant


  • Name: Kerr County (Tex.)

  • Type: Organization

  • Role: Consultant


  • Name: Kendall County (Tex.)

  • Type: Organization

  • Role: Consultant

Map

  • Name: United States. Bureau of Naval Personalnel. Educational Services Section.

  • Type: Organization

  • Role: Distributor

  • Information: [United States.] Navy Dept. BuPers. Educational Services Section.; Navy distribution. Washington, D. C.


  • Name: Harrison, Richard Edes

  • Type: Personal

  • Role: Cartographer

  • Information: Base map for “Pacific War in the Air” drawn by Richard Edes Harrison. Copyright, Fortune.


  • Name: United States. Office of Strategic Services.

  • Type: Organization

  • Role: Cartographer

  • Information: Map of South Burma and Thailand “prepared in the R and A Branch, O.S.S.”

Legal estate transfer

  • Name: Sayles, Mary E.

  • Type: Personal

  • Role: Other

  • Information: Transferee


  • Name: Turnee, Sam

  • Type: Personal

  • Role: Author

  • Information: Notary Public


  • Name: Collins, E. H.

  • Type: Personal

  • Role: Witness

Dissertation

  • Name: Wilhelm, Ronald

  • Type: Personal

  • Role: Chair or Major Professor

  • Information: Major Professor


  • Name: Ausbrooks, Carrie Y.

  • Type: Personal

  • Role: Committee member

  • Information: Minor Professor


  • Name: Cowart, Melinda

  • Type: Personal

  • Role: Committee member

Opera score

  • Name: Harding, Bertita

  • Type: Personal

  • Role: Librettist


  • Name: Ballenger, Kenneth L.

  • Type: Personal

  • Role: Author of introduction, etc.

  • Information: Prof. Kenneth L. Ballenger; Author of synopsis (page ii).

Comments

  • Name fields are connected to the UNT Name App, which will try to match text against local authority files. Editors should always choose an authorized form from the list if it is available.

  • The contributor field is not constrained by the AACR2 practice of limiting contributors to three or fewer names. Include as many contributors as are readily available.

  • If the contributor and the publisher are the same, repeat the name in the Publisher element.

  • Individuals or organizations with greater or complete responsibility for creation of the intellectual content of the resource should be recorded in the Creator element instead of the contributor element. Some examples of creators are author, editor, compiler, etc. (when applicable to the whole item)

  • The contributor roles come primarily from MARC relator codes; not all of the Library of Congress roles are included in the UNT system and several local codes have been added to the UNT list.

Resources

More Guidelines: