Regulations

The regulations for cataloguing cultural heritage concern the layouts of the catalogue cards, the authority files and the layouts of the cards for multimedia entities. The catalogue cards are descriptive models which in an organised manner, collect the information on the heritage, according to a cognitive ‘path’ which guides the cataloguer. At the same time, it checks and codes the acquisition of the data according to precise criteria. The ICCD has publicised different cataloguing models in relation to the different types of heritage: each catalogue card is accompanied by rules explaining in detail how to compile the various fields.

The authority files are checked archives which concern ‘entities’ (such as the author, the bibliography) in relation to the heritage concerned; the information on each entity is recorded in the appropriate model (the authority file cards). These have a structure and rules for compilation similar to those of the catalogue card. The authority files are used as a support for the standardisation of catalogued data and constitute the self consistent databases (databases of authors, of bibliographies, etc.), parallel and interrelated with the principal database concerning cultural heritage.

The cards for multimedia entities are modelled for the description and the management of information which concern the different types of documents (photographs, technical designs, audio, video, archived collections, etc.) that accompany the catalogue cards, to complete and enrich the knowledge of cultural heritage. These have a structure and rules for compilation similar to those of the catalogue card.

State of the regulations (updated december 2009)

The regulations for cataloguing given out by the ICCD are regularly updated and modified over the course of time, both regarding the structure of data (the layouts of the cards) and the rules of compilation. Such changes, linked to the progression and refining of scientific research in the various disciplinary sectors, let alone the requirements of cataloguing, are increasingly more complex and articulated and have resulted in the definition of successive ‘versions’ ( e.g. 2.00, 2.01, 3.00, 3.01, etc.). Therefore, according to the single specific path progressed, the cards (catalogue, authority file, multimedia entity) can appear in different versions: when arranging a new cataloguing campaign, you are advised to use the most updated version available for the standards you intend to adopt. In each case, with the exception of compliance with the rules for compilation and for ‘format of transfer’ (should these happen to be applied for the different computerisation software distributed by the ICCD), all the cards produced on the basis of the standards given out by the Institute, whichever version they belong to, are managed in the General Information System for Cataloguing.