Normative principles of cataloging refer to a set of rules and standards that guide the creation of bibliographic records to ensure consistency, accuracy, and clarity in library catalogs. Some of the key normative principles of cataloging include:
Standardization: Cataloging rules and standards should be consistent and widely accepted to facilitate resource sharing and interoperability among libraries.
Accuracy: Cataloging records should accurately reflect the information contained in the resource being cataloged, including authorship, title, publication information, and subject content.
Authority control: Cataloging records should use standardized forms of names and subjects to ensure that users can easily locate and access materials by their authors, titles, and subjects. This involves controlling the form of names and subjects used in the catalog, often through the use of authority files.
Clarity: Cataloging records should be clear and easy to understand, with standardized formats and terminology, to make it easier for users to navigate the catalog and find the resources they need.
Consistency: Cataloging records should be consistent in their application of rules and standards to ensure that similar resources are described and organized in similar ways.
Accessibility: Cataloging records should be created with the needs of users in mind, with clear and consistent descriptions of resources that are easy to search and browse.
Canons of Cataloguing
- 1 .Canon of Ascertainability
- 2.Canon of Recall Value
- 3.Canon of Prepotence
- 4.Canon of Individualisation
- 5.Canon of Sought Heading
- 6.Canon of Context
- 7.Canon of Permanence
- 8.Canon of Currency
General Normative Principles
- Law of Impartiality
- Law of Symmetry
- Law of Parsimony
- Principle of Local Variation
