Problemática de la ISBD (A)

Resum

The origins of ISBD(A) are traced for it is here that the key to its problems of coherence is to be found. This standard was born as a sort of compromise between two opposing factions: those who advocate that old books cannot con form to the f ramework of the ISBD since they are not amenable to standardization and those who believe that there would no problem in treating old books in the same fash ion as modern books and as such apply the ISBD(M) to them. We side with this second point of view although with reservations. We believe old publications present more stringent demands as regarás their individualisation although this need can be met by using the note area in full. We feel that the ISBD(M) must be modified in order to cater for the particular needs of old books and it does not seem to us that the ISBD(A) is needed. In any case and since this standard already exists we think that it should be complied with. It should also be impro ved upon so as to avoid that the range of options for description it offers makes libraries apply them differently. This would make international exchange of information more difficult.