3.3. Selecting other sources of information once the chief source has been selected (AACR2 12.0B3)

3.3.1. General information
Once the chief source is chosen, this source becomes the preferred source for the data elements of the description. AACR2 provides a list of "prescribed sources" (AACR2 12.0B3/LCRI) for each area of the description. These are the sources from which the description may be taken without using brackets. The prescribed sources are listed in priority order for each area.
Some elements of the description are given when they appear “prominently” in the resource (e.g., the statement of responsibility, AACR2 1.1F1). AACR2 0.8 defines “prominently” as appearing in a formal statement in one of the sources prescribed for areas 1 and 2 of the resource. For printed serials, thus, a statement appearing prominently would be one that appeared in a formal statement on the title page or on the title page substitute, other preliminaries, or colophon. A “formal” statement is one that appears on its own or in isolation, rather than appearing as an integral part of a block of text.
Give information that does not appear "prominently" in the item (e.g., it appears in the preface) only when it is essential to the identification of the serial and does not appear elsewhere. Apply the rules for each area of the description to determine where the information will be given in the cataloging record (e.g., 245 or 5XX) and how it will be transcribed (i.e., whether it will be bracketed).
3.3.2. Bracketing conventions
Brackets are used in the bibliographic description for data that is taken from a source other than a prescribed source, and for data that is supplied by the cataloger. Use in areas 1-4 as follows:
BRACKETING CONVENTIONS
Title and statement of responsibility (Area 1 : field 245)
• When the title proper is supplied because there is no chief source (i.e., the title is supplied from the text or another publication) (AACR2 1.1B7)
• When other title information is supplied because the title proper consists solely of the name of a corporate body or conference (AACR2 1.1E6)
• When a general material designation is given (e.g., for microforms, sound recordings, etc.) (CEG 245 $h) (AACR2 1.1C)
• When the statement of responsibility comes from a source other than the chief source (AACR2 12.0B3)
Edition statement (Area 2 : Field 250)
• When the edition statement is taken from a source other than the prescribed sources of information (AACR2 12.0B3)
• When the edition statement is supplied by the cataloger (AACR2 1.2B2, 1.2B4)
Numerical and/or alphabetical, chronological or other designation (Area 3 : Field 362)
• When no designation appears on the first issue and the designation is supplied (AACR2 12.3D1)
• When supplying information with "[sic]" or "[i.e., ...]"
• When supplying “[new ser.]”, etc. (AACR2 12.3G1)
Publication, distribution, etc. (Area 4 : Field 260)
• When supplying the name of a place or its higher jurisdiction that does not appear in the issue (AACR2 12.0B3 and 1.4C2-6))
• When supplying the name of a publisher that does not appear on the issue (AACR2 12.0B3)
• When using "S.l." or "s.n." (AACR2 1.4C6, 1.4D7)
• When supplying a beginning or ending date of publication that does not appear on the piece (even when it is the same as the chronological designation) (AACR2 1.4F7)
3.3.3. Preferred sources of information
Some data elements may only be recorded from the chief source; others may be recorded from a number of sources, but in a preferred sequence.
Record only from the chief source:
Title proper (including alternative titles and part titles)
Parallel titles
Other title information
Preferred order of sources for other types of information given in the description:
Chief source (title page or title page substitute)
Other preliminaries (cover–all parts, including spine, pages preceding the title page, verso of t.p.) and colophon
Other pages (non-text pages such as the contents, editorial pages, volume title page, etc.)
Preface or introduction, letters of transmittal, etc.
Text
Reference sources