Summary

This guide provides an overview of Genres. See the Overview of Authorities guide for general information.

Genres, included in imported MARC records will be added to the Genres Authority file. A Genres authority file can be obtained from third party providers and imported via the Management > Import screen. Staff can also add their own “custom” genre authorities if applicable. 

What are Genres

While Subject authority terms are generally assigned to describe the content of a work, Genre authority terms are a description of what an item is, not what it is about. So, a cataloged resource that is a horror film, would have a Genre of Horror films because the movie is a horror film not about a horror film. Examples of Genres are Thrillers, Fantasy, Romance, or Science fiction.

Accessing the Genres Authority File

1. Navigate to Cataloging>Authority Control and from the Function menu click on Open Genres.
   

2. This brings you to the Search Genres screen. Click the Search icon button to see the Genres List screen. 

3. The Genres List screen, with any existing Genres, will display. You may currently have no Genres until MARC records with Genre authorities are imported and/or until custom Genres are created. 

Genres Authority List Screen

The List screen of Genres as with any Authority file contains columns that provide the following information:

• The Lead Term

• Usage – the number corresponding to each Lead term in the Usage column identifies how many resource records in the catalog include the term. If the cell is blank the term is currently not included on any resource record and can be deleted

• Verified – in the column corresponding to each Lead Term, a grayed out Cross symbol indicates the term is not verified; an active Check symbol identifies that it is. If you are importing full or updated Authority files, the authorities can be verified on import

• Genre Type – this column identifies the Genre Type, that is, whether the Genre is an LoC (Library of Congress), SCIS or custom Genre.

The List screen includes two links:

• The blue numbers indicate what place the term is on the results list. It is a link that, when clicked, will take the staff member to the Detail screen of the genre term.

• The Edit icon at the end of each term listed is a link which, when clicked, takes the staff member to the Edit screen of the Genre term.

Genres Authority Search Screen

A limit on the maximum number of results returned from a search or browse process is determined by the value set on Parameter No. 1200 Maximum List Size, which applies to any List screen throughout the system.

The Genres Search screen is the same as the Search screen for other authorities   and searches are done in the same way. The only difference is the field options of genreType and relatedGenres in the Field Names field’s drop down list on which a search can be conducted.

Genre Authority Add/Edit Screen

The following table describes fields in Genre Authority Control records while the cross-reference fields are covered in the next table. This guide presumes the reader has Cataloging experience and understands what is a preferred versus non-preferred term for example.

Cross Reference Terms

Cross reference terms direct Users to other terms, such as Preferred or Related terms. When new cross-reference terms are added to an authority term, the system automatically creates a separate authority record for the cross reference. The following table identifies cross references and provides a brief explanation for each:

MARC Record with Genre Tag, Subfields and Data

Genre headings, if applicable, are found on the 655 MARC tag and relevant subfields in MARC records.

Any Genres included in imported MARC records are automatically included in the Genres Authority File, if the term does not already exist, in the same way the system processes other authority terms.

If the Genre already exists, the usage number in the Genres List and Genre’s Detail screen will increment accordingly. The Genre(s) will display on the applicable resource Detail screens in the same way as any other authority term. 

List Screen:

Detail Screen:

Resource Detail Record With a Genre: 

Detail Screen of Resource, with a Genre, Viewed in the Search Interface: