The Development of Descriptive Cataloging in Germany

This article discusses the development of descriptive cataloging in Germany and the evolution of cataloging principles. The Instruktionen für die alphabetischen Kataloge der preußischen Bibliotheken (Instructions for the Alphabetic Catalogs of the Prussian Libraries, known as the Prussian Instructions, or PI, for short) were published in 1899. The so-called Berliner Anweisungen (“Berlin Instructions,” Instructions for the Alphabetic Catalog in Public Libraries) appeared in 1938. Discussion for reform of cataloging rules began in the 1950s and received impetus from the International Conference on Cataloging Principles in Paris in 1961 and from the International Meeting of Cataloging Experts in Copenhagen in 1969. Preliminary drafts of the new Regeln für die alphabetische Katalogisierung, RAK (Rules for Descriptive Cataloging) were issued between 1969 and 1976; the complete edition of the RAK was published in the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) in 1976 and in a slightly different version in 1977 for theFederal Republic of Germany (West Germany). A version for academic libraries appeared in 1983, followed by a version for public libraries in 1986. Between 1987 and 1997, supplementary rules for special categories of materials were published. [Article copies available for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1-800-HAWORTH. E-mail address: Website: ©2002 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.]