Pääkirjaus

Pääkirjaus, often translated as "headlining" or "main entry," is a fundamental concept in cataloging and indexing, particularly in library science and archival practices. It refers to the primary or most important bibliographic record for a given item, serving as the main point of access for users seeking information about that specific work. In traditional library systems, the pääkirjaus would be the entry found under the most significant access point, such as the author's name, the main title, or a subject heading, depending on the cataloging rules in effect.

The purpose of the pääkirjaus is to consolidate all essential bibliographic details for a resource into a single, authoritative record. This includes information like the author, title, publication date, publisher, and physical description. From this main entry, other related access points, known as added entries, can be created. These added entries, which might include other authors, editors, translators, or additional subject headings, all point back to the pääkirjaus, ensuring that users can locate the item regardless of the search term they use.

In modern digital cataloging, the concept of a single "pääkirjaus" is less distinct due to the interconnected nature of databases. However, the principle of having a primary descriptive record remains crucial. The development of standards like MARC (Machine-Readable Cataloging) and FRBR (Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records) has further refined how bibliographic data is structured and linked, ensuring that the core information about an item is readily available and discoverable through various search pathways. The emphasis remains on creating a comprehensive and accurate record that effectively represents the intellectual content of the work.