The concept of corporate bodies as authors refers to the idea of impersonal authorship within the realm of publications. In many information institutions, it is common to encounter works that lack identifiable individual authors. Instead, these publications are crafted by a diverse array of entities, including international and national bodies, organizations, associations, societies, government agencies, learned societies, and even religious organizations. When such impersonal entities take on the task of creating a publication, they assume full responsibility for the content presented within these works. Thus, they are classified as corporate bodies acting as authors, highlighting the collaborative nature of authorship in the realm of institutional knowledge and information dissemination.
Corporate bodies as authors may be broadly categorized as below:
1. Basic rule
2. Language, International bodies
3. Government bodies and departments
4. Learned Bodies, Societies
5. International Conferences, Congresses, Meetings
6. Courts,
7. Religious Bodies, etc
The cataloging of publications produced by various bodies, organizations, institutions, and associations presents a significant challenge. Many information institutions and libraries adopt their own methods for creating catalog entries, which often leads to confusion and disorganization within the catalog. Different international cataloging standards, such as ALA ’49, AACR 1, LC, and AACR 2, exhibit variations in entry orders and have, in many ways, proven insufficient for ensuring consistent cataloging practices. In this discussion, we will focus on presenting the entry guidelines as outlined by AACR 2, aiming to establish a clearer and more reliable approach to cataloging.
1.Basic rule:
Enter a corporate body directly under the name by which it is predominantly identified, except when the rules that follow provide for entering it under the name of a higher or related body or the name of a government.
“Determined the form of the name of a corporate body from items issued by the body in its language, or when this combination does not apply, from reference sources.”
“Make references from other forms of a name of a corporate body …”
Aslib
British Museum
Carnegie Library of Pittsburg
University of Oxford
Yale University
Variant Names, GeneralRules:
“If the variant form of the name is found in items issued by the body use the name as it appears in the chief sources of information as opposed to forms found elsewhere in the items.”
UNESCO
not United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization.
2. Language, International bodies:
“If the name of an international body appears in English or items issued by it use the English form.”
European Economic Community
not Communauté économique européenne
International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions
not Fédération internationale des associations et institutions de bibliothèques
3. Government bodies and Departments
Use the conventional name of a government and list the official name that is commonly used. The conventional government name is the geographic name of the area (country, province, state, municipality, etc.) over which the government exercises jurisdiction.”
France
not République française
Massachusetts
not Commonwealth of Massachusetts
4. Learned Bodies, Societies
In cataloging, learned bodies, societies, and corporate entities are recognized as authors. These can include organizations, institutions, and associations that create, compile, or publish works. When cataloging, their names are recorded as main or added entries based on their role in the work. For instance, a national academy that publishes a research paper or a corporate entity that produces a technical manual is considered the author. This method ensures consistency in organizing and retrieving resources associated with institutional or organizational authorship.
5. International Conferences, Congresses, Meetings
If there are variant forms of a conference name, use the version that includes the name or abbreviation associated with the organizing body.
FAO Hybrid Maize Meeting
Symposium on Endocrines and Nutrition
UF Nutrition Symposium
6. Courts
When cataloging works authored by courts or corporate bodies, it is crucial to treat these entities as collective authors responsible for the intellectual or creative content. The name of the court or corporate body should be used as the primary entry in the catalog record to ensure consistent identification and retrieval. It is important to use the authorized form of the name, as established by relevant cataloging standards (e.g., RDA or AACR2), to maintain uniformity. These entities are often credited with issuing official reports, decisions, or publications that are central to their functions. This approach emphasizes the role of the court or corporate body as the main creator, providing clarity for users seeking authoritative sources.
7. Religious Bodies
In cataloging, religious and corporate bodies can be recognized as authors when their contributions are essential to the creation of a work. Religious bodies, such as churches, temples, or denominations, are often considered authors for publications like official doctrines, liturgical texts, or institutional histories. Similarly, corporate entities—including organizations, institutions, and government bodies—are credited as authors for works they commission or produce, such as reports, standards, or organizational histories. Catalogers follow guidelines from standards like RDA (Resource Description and Access) to determine when a corporate or religious body qualifies as an author, ensuring consistent attribution and ease of discovery. This approach acknowledges the collaborative nature of authorship in organizational contexts and promotes accurate representation in library catalogs.
In comparison to the guidelines established in ALA ’49 and the earlier AACR1, the principles outlined in AACR2 come across as notably more succinct. Nevertheless, it is essential to apply these rules in practical cataloging scenarios to evaluate their effectiveness in resolving the challenges associated with corporate bodies acting as authors. For this analysis, we will concentrate on the extensive body of work produced by prominent international organizations, particularly the United Nations. This organization has been instrumental in publishing a remarkable array of documents and materials that contribute significantly to the global discourse on various issues. By examining these publications, we can better understand how AACR2 addresses the complexities of cataloging corporate authorship.
