Access issues for nonprint documents: Toys Maureen Southorn IST 616

Toys as nonprint items: Why? Public and school libraries may offer toy collections to serve their young patrons. Toys provide a unique learning experience, and may be used for storytime programming or to promote literacy in “reluctant readers.”

Toys as nonprint items: Issues [Toy] is listed as a general material designator by AACR2, section 1.1C1. However, toys may present a variety of issues for the standard library cataloger.

Issue 1: Classification choices Dewey Decimal versus ascension numbers Dewey could link toys to subject matter, making toys appear as stronger hits in patron catalog searches. For instance, if a patron searched for “dinosaurs,” search hits could include books about dinosaurs and toy dinosaurs.  Animal puppets: 636 series?  Slinkies: series?  Barnyard playset: 631?

Issue 1: Classification choices (cont) Dewey Decimal versus ascension numbers (cont) Ascension numbers, often used for video recordings in small public libraries, would reduce classification agony. {For instance, the board game RISK could fall under the 910s (Geography), 327s (International relations), or 796s (Games).} Image source: Game- Set/dp/B000AFGV1W/ref=pd_bbs_3/ ?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and- games&qid= &sr=8-3 Game- Set/dp/B000AFGV1W/ref=pd_bbs_3/ ?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and- games&qid= &sr=8-3

Issue 1: Classification choices (cont) Catalogers may instead opt to establish a new classification, i.e. codes for type of toy coupled with ascension number or codes for age level. Most catalogers would probably opt to create a new collection for toys, and associate the items with Library of Congress subject headings. For example: New category: J TOY Subject headings:  Toys.  Toys and movable books.  Automobile (toys).

Issue 2: Title Many toys do not arrive with an official title, or title missing a prominent piece. The My Scene Un-Fur-Gettable Kennedy Doll should probably include the label “Barbie” to standardize the collection. Donated toys may arrive without packaging to provide an official name. Image above: Kennedy-Doll/dp/B000EMJ9UG/ref=sr_1_7/ ?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid= &sr=1-7

Issue 3: Creative responsibility Frisbees: see Kids found that tins from the Frisbie Baking Company ( ) flew nicely. In 1948, Los Angeles building inspector Walter Frederick Morrison and Warren Franscioni invented a plastic version. Rich Knerr of the Wham-O Company registered the Frisbee trademark in Does creative responsibility fall with manufacturer? Inventor?

Issue 4: Editions and version control In some cases, it will be clear that items require a different record. Images: keywords=scrabble&sourceid=Mozilla-searchhttp:// keywords=scrabble&sourceid=Mozilla-search

Issue 4: Editions and version control (cont) In other cases, it may be less clear when a new record is required. Images: keywords=scrabble&sourceid=Mozilla-searchhttp:// keywords=scrabble&sourceid=Mozilla-search

MARC tags Field 100 should be omitted, since pinpointing an author is tricky. The cataloger may have to use brackets to supply the title for field 245, the record’s key access point. The medium [Toy] should be entered for subfield $h.

MARC tags (cont) Field 246, the varying form for title, or fields 440 or 490 may be useful for capturing a series or standardizing toy editions. Catalogers could capture the manufacturer or distributor in field 260: $a East Aurora, NY $b Fisher-Price $c c. 2001

MARC tags (cont) Fields 300, 500, and 650 could capture the descriptive information for the toy. The 740 field could be used to link the record to other toys. The 900 fields could capture local information, such as who donated the toy or where the toy is located.

A case study: Middle Country Public Library’s toy collection Middle Country Public Library, located in Centereach and Selden, NY, has established a system for lending out a variety of toys, from puppets and puzzles to museum kits (toys included) on dinosaurs, the American West, architecture, aviation, and many other topics. (See for their kit collection.)

Case study: MCPL (continued) MCPL established a Juvenile Toy Collection category and has cataloged toys by Dewey Decimal number. Toys can be found in the OPAC using subject search “Toys” at

A MARC record for one of MCPL’s toys Source:

Case study: MCPL (cont) MCPL uses the 505 field, the “Formatted contents” section, to denote the toy’s age level. The 740 field includes an alternate name for the toy, using “three” instead of “3”. Colors and toy parts are captured in the 300 $b physical description field. The 650 fields use LC subject headings. All other relevant information was entered into the 500 field.

References The Dewey Decimal Classification System. (Undated). Ready reference card for librarians provided by the Onondaga County Public Library System to its member libraries. Obtained in Oct, 2006 as part of the Jordan Bramley Library new employee packet. Gorman, M., Winkler, P.W. (editors), and Joint Steering Committee for Revision of AACR. (1988). Anglo-American cataloguing rules - Second edition. American Library Association: Chicago. Library of Congress. Understanding MARC Authority Records: Machine Readable Cataloging. Retrieved Nov. 6, 2007 from Willis-Camp, T. (Dec. 2, 1999). Toys: Classification and description. Retrieved Nov. 6, 2007 from wt1/presentations/willis/default.htmhttp:// wt1/presentations/willis/default.htm *All unmarked graphics were retrieved on Nov. 6, 2007 from