The document discusses the ten key principles of Cataloging Cultural Objects (CCO) for cataloging objects in museum collections. It focuses on Principle 1, which is to establish logical relationships between work, collection, and image records. An example is provided of a stereoscope card depicting the Taj Mahal that would have collection, work, and image records linked together. Relationships can be indicated through record links or controlled vocabularies. Principle 2 is also covered, which is to include all required CCO elements in records, such as title, creator, and date. CCO elements are aligned with standards like VRA Core.

1. Cataloging Cultural Objects
Applying CCO
The Ten Key Principles

2. Principle #1
Establish the logical focus of each Work Record, whether it
is a single item, a work made up of several parts, or a
physical group or collection of works. Clearly distinguish
between Work Records and Image Records. (See CCO
pages 3-6)

3. Cataloging is always about choices
Determining what the work is, and the relationships between collection,
work, and image records requires thought and planning influenced by:
 Scope of a given collection or project
 Needed presentation of part/whole relationships
 Depth of cataloging (“specificity and exhaustivity”)
 Expertise of catalogers and availability of information
 Promoting access and understanding user needs

4. What is the Work?
Stereoscope card, one of a collection, depicting the Taj Mahal
[digital image of]
Taj Mahal [digital image of]

5. Determine the Relationships
Taj Mahal
Built 1631-1648
Agra, India
Stereocard Collection,
Smith College
Individual
Keystone
Stereocard, circa
1900
Part
of
Depicts
Work Record
Collection Record
Work Record
Image
Record
Image
Record
Image of
Image of

6. Determine the Relationships
Taj Mahal
Built 1631-1648
Agra, India
Stereocard Collection,
Smith College
Individual
Keystone
Stereocard, circa
1900
Part
of
Depicts
Work Record
Collection Record
Work Record
Image
Record
Image
Record
Image of
Image of

7. Determine the Relationships
Taj Mahal
Built 1631-1648
Agra, India
Stereocard Collection,
Smith College
Individual
Keystone
Stereocard, circa
1900
Part
of
Depicts
Work Record
Collection Record
Work Record
Image
Record
Image
Record
Image of
Image of

8. Determine the Relationships
Taj Mahal
Built 1631-1648
Agra, India
Stereocard Collection,
Smith College
Individual
Keystone
Stereocard, circa
1900
Part
of
Depicts
Work Record
Collection Record
Work Record
Image
Record
Image
Record
Image of
Image of

9. Determine the Relationships
Taj Mahal
Built 1631-1648
Agra, India
Stereocard Collection,
Smith College
Individual
Keystone
Stereocard, circa
1900
Part
of
Depicts
Work Record
Collection Record
Work Record
Image
Record
Image
Record
Image of
Image of

10. Determine the Relationships
Taj Mahal
Built 1631-1648
Agra, India
Stereocard Collection,
Smith College
Individual
Keystone
Stereocard, circa
1900
Part
of
Depicts
Work Record
Collection Record
Work Record
Image
Record
Image
Record
Image of
Image of

11. WORK
Image
Record 2
Image
Record 3
Image
Record 1
Reverse view of Stereograph
Card of The Taj Mahal
Stereoscope Card of The Taj
Mahal
Detail of
Stereoscope
Card
Cataloging the Work
“at hand” when determining
Relationships
In this case, the cataloging may
be directed only towards the
stereocard collection, and the
Taj Mahal may not have a full
work record, but be applied as
a controlled Subject or as a
CONA record ID
(See CCO pages 8-9)

12.  Relationships can be established by linking collection, work and image records
 They can also be established by linking to controlled vocabularies with record
numbers (refids) and/or URLs
Relationships through Links

13. Principle #2
Include all the required CCO elements.
(See CCO pages 9-15, and cataloging examples)

14. CCO “elements”
 Remember:
CCO is NOT a structural element set (used to structure database fields and
table links)
The print and online versions of CCO simply use the idea of ‘elements’ as a
way to organize the publication, to facilitate looking up information about
titles, or creators, etc. The elements were given generic names that can be
understood when used with standards like VRA Core and CDWA.

15. What is a “minimum record”?
 CCO makes recommendations (including the need for both work and image
records)
 Most structural standards also make recommendations (Title is usually
required)
 These should be considered, to formulate and follow a documented local
practice (important for training and consistency)
 The local decisions will take into account scope (of projects or special
collections) and user needs

16. CCO Recommended Elements
 Work Record: Work type, Title, Creator display, Role, Creation Date, Subject,
Current Location, Measurements, Materials and Techniques
 Image Record: View Description, View Type, View Subject, View Date
CCO assumes and recommends that there is a database structure which links
related records and controlled vocabulary terms; CCO is also to be used with a
structural standard
AGAIN: CCO element names do not necessarily match what the
element is called in the structural standard(s) that you choose

17. CCO Element names vs. VRA Core
CCO Elements (Work Record) VRA Core 4 Elements (Work Record)
Work Type
Title
Creator display
Role
Creation Date
Subject
Current Location
Measurements (type and unit)
Materials and Techniques
worktype
title
agent [subelements formatted for display,
including role]
date (type: creation)
subject
location (with type, no exact match for
“current”, rather “site” or “repository” etc.)
measurements (type and unit)
material (type)
technique

18. Examples: VRA Core fields with CCO
Creator display = VRA Core 4 agent display (includes role)
Shahjahan, Emperor of India (Mughal patron, ca. 1592-1666); Ustad Ahmad
Lahauri (Indian (South Asian) architect, ca. 1580-1649)
Current Location = VRA Core location display
Āgra, Uttar Pradesh, India
[location type: site]
Museo Archeologico Nazionale (Naples, Campania, Italy) 10006 [location type:
repository]
Using controlled list of 14 location types

19. Looking ahead…..
We are going to skip over some of the
principles better covered in our third
video, Structuring and Storing Data…
…And end with Principles 9 and 10

20. Principle #9
Be consistent regarding capitalization, punctuation, and syntax.
Avoid abbreviations, but when necessary, use standard codes
and lists for abbreviations (for example, the ISO abbreviations
for countries or languages).
(See CCO page 172; recommends using ca. for circa)

21. Principle #10
For English-language information systems and users, use
English-language data values whenever possible.

22. Cataloging Cultural Objects
This video series was developed by the
CCO Subcommittee of the
Cataloging and Metadata Standards Committee (CaMS)
of the Visual Resources Association (VRA)
 Jonathan Cartledge
 Arden Kirkland
 Susan Jane Williams
For more information, visit
http://vraweb.org/resources/cataloging-cultural-objects/