toolbox:Bibliography

Knitting and Crochet Resources

Ravelry. http://www.ravelry.com (accessed April 20, 2010).

An excellent source for anything knitting or crochet related. The pattern and yarn databases are created and maintained by volunteers, so there are some differences from how libraries might catalog items. Even so, try searching this website when working with unusual or unfamiliar pattern pamphlets. Membership is currently required to access most areas, but it is free.

Ravelry. “Ravelry Editors.” Ravelry. http://www.ravelry.com/groups/ravelry-editors (accessed April 20, 2010).

The Ravelry Editors are a helpful bunch of volunteers who have spent time in Ravelry’s pattern and yarn database trenches. If working with a unusual or rare pattern pamphlet, try searching the group’s forum or posting questions.

Vintage Knits. “Discontinued Yarn Charts.” Vintage Knits. http://www.vintageknits.com/yarncharts.html (accessed April 20, 2010).

If a pattern pamphlet somehow lacks any kind of brand name, it might be possible to identify the company by means of the yarn name. These charts from Vintage Knits are useful for older yarns, but beware, some yarn names are very common—nearly every brand has had a Pompadour line.

Series or Monographs?

Intner, Sheila S. “Teaching Serials Cataloging.” Technicalities 29 (2009): 1, 11-13.

A few general examples of tricky serial titles and approaches for in dealing with them.

Okuhara, Keiko and Kevin M. Randall. “Cataloging Serials Reproductions.” The Serials Librarian 44 (2003): 215-222.

Pattern pamphlets are often reprinted or reproduced; these require some extra information in the bibliographic description.

Pelzer, Nancy L. “Cataloging Monographic Serial Analytics: From Feast to Famine.” The Serials Librarian 47 (2005): 3, 12-136.

The first half of this article contains a useful summary and background information about analyzable serials and the contrasting benefits and costs.

Reynolds, Regina Romano. “Continuing Resources: FAQ and Fiction, Present and Future.” ICBC 34 (2005): 8-13.

Definitions and explanations for Serials, Continuing Resources, and Integrating Resources. May be helpful for determining whether a knitting pattern pamphlet is part of a series and the possible cataloging approach.

Working with Pamphlets

Since pamphlets are generally smaller or more fragile than books, some libraries or institutions may prefer to keep them in vertical files, and may disregard the benefits of cataloging them. These authors describe how their libraries maintain pamphlet collections.

Aked, Michael J. “Building and Maintaining an Academic Library Pamphlet Collection.” Collection Building 15 (1996): 22–31.

A literature review and overview of a library’s pamphlet collection, including policy and practice.

Barnhill, Georgia B. “Why Not Ephemera? The Emergence of Ephemera in Libraries.” RBM: A Journal of Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Cultural Heritage 9 (2008): 127-135.

History and overview of Ephemera from a special collections perspective. Relevant are the older knitting pattern pamphlets from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Kranz, Jack. “Enhanced Access to Pamphlets.” Cataloging & Classification Quarterly 5 (1985): 39-45.

An overview of approaches for cataloging or dealing with pamphlets.

Lowther, Stephen. “Managing and cataloguing ephemera collections.” Art Libraries Journal 31 (2006): 9-13.

One library’s approach for dealing with an ephemera collection. Includes basic guidelines for cataloging with AACR2.

Thomas, Joy. “Rejuvenating the Pamphlet File in an Academic Library.” Library Journal (1985) 43-45.

Thomas describes a compromise between cataloging pamphlets and keeping them in vertical files. Library of Congress Subject Headings were assigned to files for easier reference as a process of standardization. Creating and maintaining a collection development policy for pamphlets, Thomas asserts, is as important as it is for books and other materials. Also essential is raising awareness of the materials’ existence.