Dear Alexis :

Hi -- you're most welcome!
And yes, as regards currently published serials with an uncertain or unknown beginning date ... it actually happens quite frequently.
Continuing Resource descriptive cataloging instructions tell us to base Serial resource descriptions on the first or earliest known piece. Because we often base serial descriptions on "the earliest known" piece rather than the first, in some cases we may not know the beginning or start date for the title.

Among the wondrous things about the CONSER community -- and the Continuing Resources/Serials community at large -- is the cooperative component.
The serial resource description you create today with uncertain information, may be further refined and enhanced by another serials cataloger next week, or next year, or ten years from now with more complete information regarding the resource. 
Thanks again for your question.

with best regards,
everett

On Fri, Jan 15, 2021 at 9:27 AM Alexis Zirpoli <alexismz@umich.edu> wrote:
Thank you, Steve and Everett! This helps. I wasn't sure how acceptable it was to have a currently published continuing resource with an open beginning date, but I think that's what I'll go with, as well as the notes you proposed.

I feel more confident in the cataloging treatment now.   
- Alexis

On Thu, Jan 14, 2021 at 3:42 PM Julian Everett Allgood <everett.allgood@nyu.edu> wrote:
Dear Alexis :

Hi -- yes, I agree with Steve's suggestion. Without serial numbering indicating that the 1998/2000 volume you now have in hand is indeed the first or earliest volume, it's difficult to be certain just how far back the journal content for this title extends. I presume there is no descriptive blurb either in the volume or available from the publisher/issuing body regarding their intent with these retrospective volumes.

As Steve points out, in a situation like this it seems important that the Serial Bib description include the information that in addition to the current volumes being published, that earlier, retrospective volumes are simultaneously being published. 
Also as Steve suggests, in these situations it is important to indicate that these retrospective volumes are/were published long after the journal content that they contain (i.e., Latest volume consulted: 1998/2000, published 2021 -- or something along those lines).

cheers,
Everett Allgood
New York University Libraries



On Wed, Jan 13, 2021 at 12:02 AM Steven C Shadle <shadle@uw.edu> wrote:
If you know absolutely, positively for sure that the volume you have in hand is the first one published, I would treat it as the first issue and then note issues are retrospectively published (and in the 588 LIC for any issues, including the publication date (eg, 1998/2000, published 2021).

Without actual numbering on the issues, you also have the option of considering what you have in hand to be a later "issue" and just leave your dates open (Dates: 19uu,9999) and 588 DBO based on what you have in hand (and still noting issues are retrospectively published). 

Without pieces in hand, I'm not comfortable making a firm judgment.  Just giving you options here.  Hope this helps.  I'll be curious if others have thoughts.

Steve


From: serialst@simplelists.com <serialst@simplelists.com> on behalf of Alexis Zirpoli <alexismz@umich.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 2021 2:01 PM
To: serialst@simplelists.com <serialst@simplelists.com>
Subject: Re: [SERIALST] Retrospective volumes - how to treat
 
Steve,

No, they don't have independent volume numbering. Each volume is identified by the years covered in each volume. Hence why I'm perplexed as to how to handle this.

- Alexis

On Tue, Jan 12, 2021 at 1:59 PM Steven C Shadle <shadle@uw.edu> wrote:
HI Alexis,

Do the volumes have any independent numbering (meaning is first volume published in 2019 somehow numbered or identified as vol. 1 are 1st volumes)?  If so, that is your first issue, no matter what is happening chronologically with the content.  Being published out of chronological sequence (or retrospectively) can be handled by notes.

Steve Shadle
Head, Serials Cataloging
University of Washington Libraries




From: serialst@simplelists.com <serialst@simplelists.com> on behalf of Alexis Zirpoli <alexismz@umich.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 2021 9:22 AM
To: serialst@simplelists.com <serialst@simplelists.com>
Subject: [SERIALST] Retrospective volumes - how to treat
 
I'm writing to ask if anyone has dealt with this before. I have this title, The Guernsey Law Reports. They began publishing the reports in print in 2019, starting with a volume of reports from the years 2000-2002. Now they are issuing retrospective volumes, with reports prior to 2000. I have no idea how far back in time the publisher is going to go.

My question is this: what do I do about recording start dates for the time periods covered by the Reports, since they will be covering reports issued in the future, as well as the past? I suppose that, technically, they began with 2000, because that was the first volume published. But now that they are publishing retrospective volumes, we don't know when they actually "began". Would you just cover this with a note field? Or do something else?

Thanks for your time and consideration.

- Alexis

--
Alexis Zirpoli (they/them/theirs)
Serials Librarian

University of Michigan Law School - Law Library
734-647-1563
801 Monroe Street, S-110B Legal Research
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1210

To unsubscribe from this list please go to http://archives.simplelists.com

To unsubscribe from this list please go to http://archives.simplelists.com



--
Alexis Zirpoli (they/them/theirs)
Serials Librarian

University of Michigan Law School - Law Library
734-647-1563
801 Monroe Street, S-110B Legal Research
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1210

To unsubscribe from this list please go to http://archives.simplelists.com

To unsubscribe from this list please go to http://archives.simplelists.com



--
************************
                                                                                                       
Everett Allgood
Authorities Librarian & Principal Serials Cataloger
New York University Libraries
everett.allgood@nyu.edu
212 998 2488

"We must make our choice. We may have democracy, or we may have wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can't have both."
                                                                                                                              -- Louis D. Brandeis 

To unsubscribe from this list please go to http://archives.simplelists.com



--
Alexis Zirpoli (they/them/theirs)
Serials Librarian

University of Michigan Law School - Law Library
734-647-1563
801 Monroe Street, S-110B Legal Research
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1210

To unsubscribe from this list please go to http://www.simplelists.com/confirm.php?u=ThWf7JZyFWjokvZlM6XFBmiK6C5yOzhM



--
************************
                                                                                                       
Everett Allgood
Authorities Librarian & Principal Serials Cataloger
New York University Libraries
everett.allgood@nyu.edu
212 998 2488

"We must make our choice. We may have democracy, or we may have wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can't have both."
                                                                                                                              -- Louis D. Brandeis