Metadata Input Guidelines: Contributor
PAGE CONTENTS 17 minute read.
Element Name
Contributor
Definition
A person or organization that has played an important but secondary role in creating the content of the resource and is not specified in the creator element.
Where Can the Contributor Information be Found?
Contributors include any person/company/organization that was involved in creating the item (but who were not primarily responsible) and may be found on:
Item Type | Information Sources |
---|---|
For text |
|
For images |
|
For maps |
|
For music scores |
|
For videos |
|
For sound files |
|
For computer files |
|
In some cases contributors may come from accompanying or supplementary information.
How Contributor Works in the Metadata Form
Parts:
- Contributor name – text field
- Contributor type – drop-down menu
- Contributor role – drop-down menu
- Contributor information – text field
Repeatable?
Yes - to include multiple contributors, click ‘Add’ to repeat all field parts
Required?
No (more information)
How Should the Contributor be Filled in?
General Contributor Rules
- If no contributor information is readily available, leave the field blank
- Only include individuals/organizations who had secondary
responsibility for the item or who were only responsible for a
portion of the work
- Primary ‘contributors’ should be entered as creators instead
- Contributors should not also be entered as creators; if they act in multiple capacities, see the Role section for clarification
- For more information about when a person/organization is a creator or a contributor, see our definition page
- An entity must have a direct relationship to the item that can be explicated in order to be included as a contributor (or creator)
- Include as many contributors as are readily available
- Place them in order of importance
- If contributors are equally important, list them in the order that they appear
- If a document has an excessively large number of creators or authors (e.g., several hundred researchers) include the parent organizations as creators and the individual persons as contributors
- For each contributor, the name, type, and role are required
- If possible, consult an authority file to find the correct form of
the name, including:
- The UNT Name App
- The Library of Congress Authorities
- A locally-developed utility
- Note that organizational names generally reflect the name of the agency at the time the item was created – e.g., Texas (Republic) vs. Texas, or North Texas State University vs. University of North Texas – however, if possible, personal names will generally reflect a single, most current version when multiple names (initials, maiden names, etc.) are known to be used by a specific person
Contributor Names
Personal Names
Guideline | Example(s) |
---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name: Alwin, Lawrence F. Info: CPA; State Auditor Name: Dunlap, George P. Info: Geo. P. Dunlap |
|
Name: Gaines, Ann
Name: Gaines, Ann Info: Ann Sanders |
|
Name: Associated Press Info: Staff photograph |
Organization Names
Guideline | Example |
---|---|
For non-government or single-level bodies:
|
|
For hierarchical agencies:
|
|
For United States agencies:
|
|
For foreign agencies:
|
|
Contributor Type
Choose the appropriate contributor type:
Guideline | Example |
---|---|
If the contributor is an individual | Person |
If the contributor is a company, organization, association, agency, or other institution | Organization |
If it is unclear whether the contributor name belongs to an individual or an organization, use 'Person' and format the name appropriately. (If it is important to clarify this choice, you can include a Non-Displaying Note.) |
|
In some rare and very specific cases, other options may apply: | |
If the contributor is a conference or other event that produces papers and materials (e.g., A statement drafted by all members of a symposium or conference as part of the activities of the meeting) |
Event |
If the contributor is a computer program that generates data or files (e.g., A file created while a computer program was running) |
Software |
Contributor Role
Entering Roles
Choose the appropriate contributor role from the controlled vocabulary
Guideline | Example |
---|---|
If the role is not listed:
|
Name: Caffey, Wiley L. Role: Other Information: Business Manager |
If more than one role applies to the contributor:
|
Name: Etter, Amanda Perez Role: Editor Information: Managing Editor; Sponsor |
Assigning Roles
- Although the same list of roles is available for both creators and
contributors, some roles will only apply to contributors:
- Agents who only had responsibility for a part, e.g., author of introduction, etc.; witness; consultant; expert
- Agents who had an indirect relationship, e.g., funder, sponsor,
former owner, donor
(Additional explanation is on our creator and contributor definition page
- The role should describe the action that the agent took in creating the item and it may not align with job titles or credentials, for example:
Agents | Role | Example | |
---|---|---|---|
"Director" |
|
Director | Creator Name: Homer, Paula Type: Person Role: Director Info: UNT Opera Theater |
vs. | |||
|
n/a | Creator Name: Texas. Department of Transportation. Type: Organization Role: Author Info: Phil Wilson, Executive Director |
|
|
Author of introduction, etc. (or another appropriate role) |
Contributor Name: Camargo, Gene Type: Person Role: Author of introduction, etc. Info: Director of Building Inspections |
|
"Performer" |
|
Performer | Creator Name: North Texas Wind Symphony Type: Organization Role: Performer |
vs. | |||
|
Originator Researcher (or another appropriate role) |
Creator Name: Quigg, Antonietta Salvatrice Type: Person Role: Author Contributor Name: Texas Water Development Board Type: Organization Role: Originator |
|
"Consultant" |
|
Author | Creator Name: Kerley, Gerald I. Type: Person Role: Author Info: Consultant, Kerly Technical Services |
vs. | |||
|
Consultant | Contributor Name: Kanto, Leonard E. Type: Person Role: Consultant Info: State of Texas Professional Engineer; Consultant Engineer |
Contributor Information
- This field is only for information about the contributor listed in or directly related to the object
- The info field is not intended for biographies or lengthy descriptions of the agent
- It is not necessary to do research to find information; this field is only used for readily-available notes
Guideline | Example |
---|---|
|
Consulting Engineer Trio for Piano, Violin and Cello in C Major, K. 548 (1788) The Route to Capitalization: The Transcendent Registration Exemptions for Securities Offerings as a Means to Small Business Capital Formation |
|
Judge Sam'l A. Roberts LMSW; Manager, Purchased Health Services Unit Houston, Texas |
|
Rev. R. G. Mood, M.A., D.D.; Secretary and Editor of the North Texas Conference "Under Four Flags on Texas Soil, By A. Garland Adair, Editor, The Mexia Daily News" |
Other Examples
Book
- Name: Ben C. Jones & Co.
- Type: Organization
- Role: Printer
- Information: “Printers, Electrotypers and Binders, Austin.”
Yearbook
- Name: Richards, Olan
- Type: Person
- Role: Editor
-
Information: Art Editor
- Name: American Beauty Cover Company
- Type: Organization
-
Role: Artist
- Name: Abilene Printing and Stationery Company
- Type: Organization
-
Role: Printer
- Name: Thurman’s Studio
- Type: Organization
-
Role: Photographer
- Name: Southwest Engraving Company
- Type: Organization
- Role: Engraver
Journal issue
- Name: Baldwin, Dan
- Type: Person
- Role: Editor
-
Information: Assistant Editor
- Name: Riddle, Peggy
- Type: Person
- Role: Editor
- Information: Assistant Editor
Research Report
- Name: Texas Water Development Board
- Type: Organization
-
Role: Sponsor
- Name: Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (Tex.)
- Type: Organization
-
Role: Funder
- Name: Upper Guadalupe River Authority
- Type: Organization
-
Role: Funder
- Name: Headwaters Groundswater Conservation District
- Type: Organization
-
Role: Consultant
- Name: Cow Creek Groundwater Conservation District
- Type: Organization
-
Role: Consultant
- Name: Kendall County Water Control and Improvement District #1
- Type: Organization
-
Role: Consultant
- Name: Kerr County (Tex.)
- Type: Organization
-
Role: Consultant
- Name: Kendall County (Tex.)
- Type: Organization
- Role: Consultant
Map
- Name: United States. Bureau of Naval Personnel. Educational Services Section.
- Type: Organization
- Role: Distributor
-
Information: [United States.] Navy Dept. BuPers. Educational Services Section.; Navy distribution. Washington, D. C.
- Name: Harrison, Richard Edes
- Type: Person
- Role: Cartographer
-
Information: Base map for “Pacific War in the Air” drawn by Richard Edes Harrison. Copyright, Fortune.
- Name: United States. Office of Strategic Services.
- Type: Organization
- Role: Cartographer
- Information: Map of South Burma and Thailand “prepared in the R and A Branch, O.S.S.”
Legal estate transfer
- Name: Sayles, Mary E.
- Type: Person
- Role: Other
-
Information: Transferee
- Name: Turnee, Sam
- Type: Person
- Role: Author
-
Information: Notary Public
- Name: Collins, E. H.
- Type: Person
- Role: Witness
Dissertation
- Name: Wilhelm, Ronald
- Type: Person
- Role: Chair or Major Professor
-
Information: Major Professor
- Name: Ausbrooks, Carrie Y.
- Type: Person
- Role: Committee member
-
Information: Minor Professor
- Name: Cowart, Melinda
- Type: Person
- Role: Committee member
Opera score
- Name: Harding, Bertita
- Type: Person
-
Role: Librettist
- Name: Ballenger, Kenneth L.
- Type: Person
- Role: Author of introduction, etc.
- Information: Prof. Kenneth L. Ballenger; Author of synopsis (page ii).
Comments
- Name fields are connected to the UNT Name App, which will try to match text against local authority files. Editors should always choose an authorized form from the list if it is available.
- The contributor field is not constrained by the AACR2 practice of limiting creators/contributors to three or fewer names. Include as many contributors as are readily available.
- Input entities responsible for digitizing an existing resource in the Institution element instead of the contributor element.
- Individuals or organizations with greater or complete responsibility for creation of the intellectual content of the resource should be recorded in the Creator element instead of the Contributor element. Some examples of creators are author, editor, compiler, etc. (when applicable to the whole item rather than a part).
- The contributor roles come primarily from MARC relator codes; not all of the Library of Congress roles are included in the UNT system and several local roles have been added to the UNT list.
Resources
- UNT Contributor Role Controlled Vocabulary
- Creator and Contributor Definitions (how to choose which one to use)
- UNT Name App
- Library of Congress
- OCLC Worldcat
- Worldcat via FirstSearch (Accessible to UNT staff/students)
More Guidelines: