Public library problem. Did you know ?

[David]

Some time back I was in my library looking for 'The Brothers Karamazov'.

I was surprised to find it wasn't on the (Bradford Met' ) library computer. The librarian spent some time looking, but no success.
I thought this very odd for such a famous classic Russian book.

It turned out that they DID have it, but listed under 'The Karamazov Brothers'. Now, it appears that it depends upon who did the translation. But why would anyone want to change the title ? Can you imagine 'The Brothers Grimm' being changed to 'The Grimm Brothers'.

[L J]

David wrote: "Some time back I was in my library looking for 'The Brothers Karamazov'.

I was surprised to find it wasn't on the (Bradford Met' ) library computer. The librarian spent some time looking, but no s...

Can you imagine 'The Brothers Grimm' being changed to 'The Grimm Brothers'. "

The Brothers Karamazov problem is distressing.

The Grimm Brothers wouldn't be good. It sounds like series title for contemporary or paranormal romance novels about a group of brothers named Grimm.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

This happens quite a bit. For example his novel The Possessed (older translation) is now more commonly called Demons and The Devils. The art and practice of translation goes through changes and trends just like everything else.

[Andria]

Librarian here - this is a cataloging issue. The bibliographic record should have a 246 tag, indicating an alternate title, so that the book shows up in the catalog regardless of whether you search for the old or new title. Unfortunately, many libraries have reduced or cut their cataloging staff, and rely on books that come pre-cataloged by the book vendor, leading to problems like this. (The more you know!)

[David]

A similar problem reared it's head a couple of days ago.

I was looking for 'Feersum Endjinn' by Iain M Banks.

Nothing on the library website of that name, or anything by that author.

Seemed a bit odd as I had recently borrowed 'Walking on Glass' by Iain Banks.

Then it dawned on me. The person who did the cataloguing didn't know that Iain M Banks and Iain Banks, may be the same person, but all his sci-fi stuff comes under Iain M Banks.

So they have nothing of his sci-fi writings. Searching by title doesn't help either.

Well, this is Bradford Met library. So anyone in that area, be warned.

David.

[Scott]

David wrote: "Then it dawned on me. The person who did the cataloguing didn't know that Iain M Banks and Iain Banks, may be the same person, but all his sci-fi stuff comes under Iain M Banks."

I don't understand how this would lead to them not having any of his books.

[Dee]

Scott wrote: "David wrote: "Then it dawned on me. The person who did the cataloguing didn't know that Iain M Banks and Iain Banks, may be the same person, but all his sci-fi stuff comes under Iain M Banks."

I d..."

neither do i - lots of authors use similar names as pseudonyms - unless there was a demand to buy the books and depending on the libraries purchasing policy...

[Emily]

Yeah, whether they have the books or not is a separate issue. I would definitely request that they add some if you are looking to read them, or request them through inter-library loan. :)

[Dee]

re: the original - i probably would have just searched for Karamazov i the library catalog as a keyword

sometimes being creative and thinking outside the box is how you find books that may have been shelved differently

for example - my library shelves YA series books into genres and then series title - but somehow they book 1 and 4 ended up in fantasy and books 2 in sci-fi and book 3 in horror i think - i brought it to their attention and they fixed it

[David]

Maybe they do have books by Iain M Banks stashed away somewhere, but because the catalogue doesn't list Iain M Banks (only by Iain Banks) as an author, there is no direct way of finding them.
And if you enter the name of the book it will be referenced to the author, who isn't listed.

Maybe they had the books on the shelves once, but due to the virus one can't look.

David.

I have mentioned this to one of the librarians. Hopefully something will be done about it.

[David]

Dee,

I found my copy of Karamazov by physically looking at the contents of a compilation of his stories. It was under the 'new' name. when I pointed it out, the version entitled 'The Karamazov Brothers was found in the listings.

It is a problem that plagues people who have hundreds of files on their computer and associated CD files. Unless one has a very good indexing system, you are lost.

David.

[David]

Andria wrote: "Librarian here - this is a cataloging issue. The bibliographic record should have a 246 tag, indicating an alternate title, so that the book shows up in the catalog regardless of whether you search..."

Interestingly, I had a phone call from our library today. The book you reserved is here.
So, went to get it. But it wasn't the book I expected (The Dispossessed) it was 'Surface Detail' by Iain M Banks.

Looked on the library website at my account and found that there are now four Iain M Banks sci fi books reserved for me. Three of them not in yet.

Things are looking up.

David.