[Heb-NACO] A few of open questions about HC RDA

[Robert M. TALBOTT]

Folks:

I spent some time over the week end reviewing, and re-reviewing the draft
of HC RDA.  I was on almost all fronts pleased with direction of the newer
policies (e.g., mixing and matching romanization schemes for 1xx
qualifications) and also for the degree of continuity between the way we
used to do things, and the way we are now encouraged to do them. To that
end: Heidi, Joan, and Benjamin, thank you very, very much.

I have a couple of questions/concerns:

1) In the "diacritics" section on p.16, there is no mention of the miagki
znak.  Is this an oversight or is this official policy?

2) Given the large number of compilations, particularly compilations of
expressions, one typically encounters cataloging Hebraica, it seems to me
that it might be worth while touching briefly on the structure of these
sorts of records and perhaps on some of the more common examples. This
seems particularly germane since the discussion of directions in the HC RDA
uses examples that are compilations of expressions (e.g. p. 65, "Exception
to 6.30.3.3").  Providing a short overview of compilations of expressions
(LC-PCC PS 6.27.3) and then identifying these things as they are used as
example in our text would add clarity.

3) Given the common difficulties associated with dates in authority records
one encounters with alarming frequency in Hebraica cataloging, having a
short section devoted to the interplay of 1xx $d and the 046 would be
helpful.

4) On p 73, the following example is given:

1001 Ben-Guryon, Yosef
4001 Guryon, Yosef Ben-

The cross reference gives me a great deal of difficulty.  If "Ben-Guryon"
is truly as surname (as the hyphenation implies), then one (or at least I)
wouldn't ever expect to see either "Ben" or Guryon" in this context
independent of each other; the way I read "Ben-Guryon" in that "Ben-" is
not separable.  For this reason, recommending a reference from "Guryon,
Yosef Ben-" seems like it confers no true benefit. Is there something I'm
overlooking?

6) P. 78 recommends the use of the 1970's version of EJ.  This surprised
me.  While I'm not a great fan of the 2007 edition, the latter does in fact
contain new information in addition to evertything (so far as I know) that
was presented in the 1970's version. Is the recommendation of the 70's EJ
an oversight?

7) For a gazetteer, I use Entsiklopedyah Mapah in conjunction with Talmi.
 The former work is particularly helpful for identifying newer settlements.
 The entries are partially vocalized; words that can be found in a
dictionary are routinely not romanized while the remainder are (e.g., in
the entry for Barir, Har, "barir" is fully vocalized while "har" is not).
 I would appreciate it very much if this resource would be considered for
inclusion.

Whew. That's all I have.

Thanks for listening, and thank you again for your work on this project.

Cheers

Bob

-- 

Bob Talbott

Principal cataloger/Hebraica cataloger

UC Berkeley

250 Moffitt

Berkeley, CA 94720


We're happy as fish,
as gorgeous as geese,
and wonderfully clean in the morning.
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