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Copy for rare materials is often poor and sketchy; choosing the best copy requires good judgment on the part of the copy cataloger. Full AACR2 copy is always preferable; however, pre-AACR2 copy is also acceptable. When determining whether an existing bibliographic record corresponds to an item you are cataloging or whether you should create a new record, follow the guidelines in Match Criteria.
If you find a full AACR2 record in OCLC with a usable call number and valid subject headings (if required), your search can stop there. If your copy is pre-AACR2, though, continue your search for better copy. (OCLC AACR2 copy will have an a in the Desc element of the fixed field.)
Matching copy in a different format should not be used, since we don't want our holdings to show up on a record in a different format. Refer if this is the only matching copy found.
If matching copy is missing subject headings (except for fictional works) and/or missing a usable Library of Congress call number (050 or 090), refer. Do not bring the copy into Workflows. Original catalogers will upgrade the record in OCLC before bringing the record into Workflows.
If anything in the record is doubtful or uncertain, please do refer the book and leave some indication of what the problem is on the accompanying flier. Possible problems might be subject headings that don't seem right, call numbers that don't seem to fit the shelflist, publication date/publisher information is weird, missing 7XX access points for co-authors, or anything else that makes your brain go "hmmmm...."
You are always welcome to bring original catalogers questions about any aspect of cataloging as they arise, particularly if the item is of rush status.
