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International Conference on Cataloguing Principles (ICCP), 1961;

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International Conference on Cataloguing Principles (ICCP), 1961;

The International Congress of Cataloguing Principles (ICCP) held in 1961 was a significant event in the history of library science. It aimed to bring together librarians, catalogers, and experts in the field from around the world to discuss and establish universal principles for cataloging library materials. The congress was held in Paris, and its outcome had a lasting impact on the development of cataloging standards.

One of the key results of the congress was the creation of the Paris Principles, which are a set of recommendations that outlined the fundamental rules for cataloging and described the objectives of a library catalog. These principles emphasized the following main points:

  1. User-Centric Cataloging: The catalog should be designed primarily for the benefit of users, aiming to facilitate access to materials.
  2. Representation of the Entity: Catalogs should represent the intellectual content of items and offer the best possible description of them.
  3. Uniformity and Consistency: Cataloging should be standardized to ensure consistency and uniformity across libraries and countries.
  4. Language and Format: Cataloging should allow for the use of multiple languages and adapt to diverse cultural contexts while maintaining clarity.

The Paris Principles influenced subsequent cataloging codes and contributed to the development of modern cataloging standards, including the Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules (AACR) and the International Standard Bibliographic Description (ISBD).

The 1961 congress and the principles established there helped shape the way libraries organize and access information worldwide, influencing cataloging practices for decades.

ICCP

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