The Library keeps four copies of exhibition catalogs of Museum of Modern Art exhibitions that are assigned numbers by the Museum.
The four copies of exhibition catalogs are distributed to four locations as follows:
Reading Room set--shelved by the Museum number
Stacks set (2 copies)--shelved by classed call number assigned by cataloging librarians
Second stacks set--shelved by the Museum number
This second stacks set is shelved, for now, with the Archive set (i.e., interfiled). The call numbers do not carry an Archive location so that the set can be housed elsewhere as needed.
Examples of labels for one exhibition catalog:
Reading room set:
Reading
Room
MoMA
1503
Stacks set:
NC
139
.D53
A4
1988
Second stacks set:
[No location]
MoMA
1503
c.2
PART 2: MONOGRAPHS
When a monograph accompanies an exhibition in lieu of a catalog, the Library retains 4 copies and labels them as described in Part 1 (i.e., as if they were exhibition catalogs).
If a checklist is also available for the exhibition, 4 copies are retained and treated as described below in Part 3.
PART 3: CHECKLISTS AND PRESS RELEASES
Checklists that accompany monographs
4 copies are shelved separately at the four locations described in Part 1 using the same numbering protocols but with added work marks to distinguish them from the monographs (usually “c” or ch” or “cl”)
Examples of labels for monographs with separate checklists:
Reading room set:
[Monograph]
MoMA
784
Reading room set:
[Checklist]
MoMA
784ch
Library Archive set:
[Monograph]
Archive
MoMA
784
Library Archive set:
[Checklist]
Archive
MoMA
784ch
Stacks set:
[Monograph]
ND
548
.L37
1937
Stacks set:
[Checklist]
ND
548
.L37
1937ch
Second stacks set:
[Monograph]
[No location]
MoMA
784
c.2
Second stacks set:
[Checklist]
[No location]
MoMA
784ch
c.2
Checklists without catalogs or monographs
In some cases a checklist or a press release-with-checklist is the only publication accompanying an exhibition. Because checklists are valuable documentation for exhibitions and because they are typical features of exhibition catalogs, the Library keeps 4 copies and labels them as described in Part 1 (i.e. as if they were exhibition catalogs).
Checklist packets with press releases
If a packet has been created that includes a separate press release and a separate checklist, consider the packet to be a unit. Retain 4 units and label as described in Part 1 (i.e., as if they were exhibition catalogs).
Solo press releases
On rare occasions the Library has used a press release in lieu of an exhibition catalog or checklist. A press release by itself should not be treated as a catalog. If placed on the shelves to document the exhibition, 2 copies are retained, 1 copy shelved in the Library Archives with the Museum-assigned number and added work mark (usually “p” or “pr”) and 1 copy shelved in the stacks with a classified call number and added work mark (usually “p” or “pr”)
Examples of labels for solo press releases:
Library Archive set:
Archive
MoMA
56p
Stacks set:
NB
25
.L42
1937p
PART 3: BROCHURES, MEDIA REPORTS, PRESS KITS
Brochures
2 copies of exhibition brochures are retained. One copy is shelved in Library Archives with the Museum-assigned number and added work mark to distinguish it from the exhibition catalog (usually “b” or “br”). The other copy is shelved in the stacks with the same classed call number as the exhibition catalog and added work mark to distinguish it from the exhibition catalog (usually “b” or “br”).
Examples of labels for brochures:
Library Archive set:
Archive
MoMA
1503b
Stacks set:
NC
139
.D53
A4
1988b
Media reports and press kits
Single copies of media reports and press kits are retained. They are shelved in Library Archives with Museum-assigned numbers and added work marks to distinguish them from exhibition catalogs (typically, “m,” “mr,” “k,” or “pk”).
If a second copy is retained, it is shelved in the stacks with the same number as the classed call number for the exhibition catalog and added work mark to distinguish it from the exhibition catalog.
Examples of labels for media reports: Examples of labels for press kits:
Library Archive set:
Archive
MoMA
1503mr
Stacks set:
NC
139
.D53
A4
1988mr
Library Archive set:
Archive
MoMA
1503pk
Stacks set:
NC
139
.D53
A4
1988pk
PART 4: “PROJECTS” EXHIBITIONS
Projects exhibitions are a consecutively numbered series of exhibitions curated by MoMA staff. Each exhibition carries 2 numbers, one for the Projects show and one for the regular sequence of Museum exhibitions.
4 copies are labeled and distributed as described in Part 1, and a 5th copy is retained as part of a complete set shelved in the stacks at N620.M9 A635.
PART 5: MoMA EXHIBITION NUMBER IN THE BIB RECORD
The Museum-assigned exhibition number is added to the bibliographic record in the 024 field--the “Other standard identifier” field. The first indicator value is “8” for “Unspecified type of standard number or code,” and the field is introduced with a $z, “Canceled/invalid standard number or code.” Entering the number in this field enables its searching for it in one of 3 ways: 1) by keyword; 2) by using the MoMA Exhibition Number index in the Builder tab of the Cataloging Module; 3) by using the MoMA Exhibition Number index in the Advanced Search tab of DADABASE.
PART 6: EPHEMERAL MATERIAL RELATED TO AN EXHIBITION
Generally, a single copy of miscellaneous material relating to an exhibition that is deemed worthy of collecting is retained. It is shelved in the Library Archive and numbered and labeled as described in Part 3 under media reports and press kits with added work marks appropriate to the material.
PART 7: SBS LABELS
From late 2000-autumn 2002 the Library did not classify its collection, instead, it shelved material with consecutive “shelve-by-size” (SBS) numbering. The stacks copies of MoMA exhibition catalogs for that period have SBS numbers (unless reclassed to LC for some reason).
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