The cataloging portion of the V3 Metadata site provides basic introductory information on the Variations cataloging process. These pages do not cover all situations catalogers may encounter. It is therefore suggested that for discussion purposes and future reference, catalogers should consider asking questions and offering suggestions in the cataloger discussion section of the internal project wiki. If an individual feels uncomfortable posting a question, he or she may directly contact other catalogers and V3 metadata specialists listed in the Communication page.
Cataloging in the Variations system assumes a basic understanding of MARC format and AACR2 rules associated with traditional music cataloging. This assumption is reflected in the cataloging documents listed here, which rarely describe MARC and AACR2 practices. Whereas an explanation of traditional music cataloging practices is out of the scope of this site, a section of the Music Resources page devoted to cataloging resources may provide some assistance.
The cataloging portion of the V3 metadata site is divided into three sections. The workflow document is a simple list detailing a suggested order of activities. The Fields and Procedures pages provide information on the four major record types (contributor, work, container, and instantiation), including field definitions, formatting suggestions, and cataloging procedures. The last section, Special Features, is devoted to practices and functions that are not related to specific records or fields. Topics include the diacritics tool and synchronization/measure-level binding, among other topics.
Due to the variety of record types and fields, cataloging in the Variations system may seem a bit overwhelming at first. In order to gain a basic familiarity with the Variations system, it is highly recommended that new catalogers read through the Admin Interface and Training sections of this site, perform a few searches, and open a few records to get an idea of the manner in which information is organized before cataloging anything, .