Date: Fri, 03 Jun 1994 15:05:51 -0500 (CDT)
From: katherine jane ciacci <kjc2@MIDWAY.UCHICAGO.EDU>
Subject: CCC Series Authority Record Task Group

  A MESSAGE FROM THE COOPERATIVE CATALOGING COUNCIL SERIES
                AUTHORITY RECORD TASK GROUP

This message is being posted in two slightly different
versions to a number of technical
services and public services lists.  The only difference
between them is in the order of sections, so as to highlight
the section likely to be of most interest to readers of a
particular list.  We apologize for the
duplication.

PLEASE send your response to:

ccc-sar-tg@stax.lib.uchicago.edu

by June 18.  Do NOT send it to the list.

A paper mail address also appears at the end of the message.

Thank you
The Cooperative Cataloging Council Series Authority Record
Task Group: Karen Calhoun (OCLC), Jane Ciacci (University of
Chicago, chair), Mechael Gago (Indiana University), Cecily
Johns (University of California at Santa Barbara), Judy
Kuhagen (Library of Congress) Linda West (Harvard)
_______________________________________________________

The Cooperative Cataloging Council Series Authority Record
Task Group is charged to define the content and functional
uses of series authority records in the national authority
file.  This task is associated with Goal 2.1 of the Program
for Cooperative Cataloging Five-Year Strategic Plan: 1994-
1999.

Goal 2.1 Develop standards that will support wide use of
records in a cost-effective manner.

                         FUNCTIONAL USES
          OF THE SERIES AUTHORITY RECORD IN THE NATIONAL
                         AUTHORITY FILE

The CCC Task Group on Series Authority Records has devised
the following draft list of functional uses of the series
authority record in the national authority file.  This list
is drawn from a variety of sources, including the reports of
previous CCC task groups and the CCC strategic plan.

The "national authority file" is defined as a file which is
administered by LC, and which exists in "mirrored copies" at
LC and each of the participating bibliographic utilities.

We would like to receive your comments about this list,
including additions, subtractions, substitutions,
emendations, and answers to our queries.  The list is in no
way finalized at this point.

We would also be interested in hearing your views about the
current vs. future functions of series authority records.

A.  Functional uses of series authority records in the
national authority file: Technical Services

1.  Facilitate international use and exchange of authority
records (e.g. for the proposed Anglo-American authority
database) by retaining the principle that for every access
point, there should be a record in the national authority
file
     *a range of record types from unverified (including
machine-generated) to fully verified records could coexist
in the national authority file

2.  Support cost-effective cataloging and authority work
     *the proposed core record standard for bibliographic
records, which is intended to expedite original cataloging,
is predicated on reliable authority work
     *the "fluid record" concept, in which bibliographic
records are seen as dynamic, is also predicated on reliable
authority work
     *reduce redundant local searching and duplication of
authority work
     *promote consistency in authority work

3.  Facilitate seamless linkages of bibliographic databases
and authority files to maximize automation of authority
work, and allow easy copying and reduce keying
     *this would reduce the number of transcription errors
in using authority records, and ultimately the amount of
maintenance to be done

4.  Facilitate accurate representation of series in
bibliographic records
     *the 1xx provides authorized form
     *a dynamic series authority record can be added to as
relevant new information becomes available
     *standardize form of volume/caption data

5.  Support database maintenance with an authority record
for every series
     *machine validation
     *manipulation of records
     *global changes
     *overall integrity of the database
     *series given same importance as names or subjects

6.  Support easy identification of the level of completeness
of a bibliographic record and the source, to identify the
usefulness of that record

7.  Record specific information about series:
     *dates of publication
     *extent of volumes
     *numbering peculiarities
     *publisher and place of publication
     *type of series
     *numbered/unnumbered

8.  Record variants in series names

9.  Record related headings and relationships between series

10.  Facilitate maintenance of correct information for
standing orders of series
     *reduce duplication of ordering

11.  Communicate series form and treatment decisions for a
particular catalog to catalogers in other institutions, in
order to facilitate local decisions by individual library
catalogers, acquisitions, and collection development staff
     *LC series form and treatment decisions
     *series form and treatments of other libraries

     QUERY:  how often do local form and treatment differ
from forms and treatments found in the national authority
file?

     QUERY: how important is it for other libraries to be
able to add their own treatments in addition to that of the
inputting library?

     QUERY: are there other ways besides SAR's to reliably
communicate this information, whether it comes from LC or
other libraries?

B.  Functional uses of series authority records in the
national authority file: Public Services

1.  Support efficient series access in OPAC
     *provide cross-reference structure for the catalog
     *consistency in the appearance of a series name
     *differentiation of similar forms through the use of
qualifiers, which appear only in controlled access points.

     QUERY: is access needed to all types of series?

     QUERY: is keyword access an adequate substitute for
controlled access to series in the national context?

     QUERY: is controlled access to series more important in
some scholarly disciplines (e.g. the sciences) than in
others?

     QUERY: is there a difference in importance of
controlled access to series by type of library (e.g.
academic vs. public libraries)?

PLEASE REMEMBER to send your response to:
     ccc-sar-tg@stax.lib.uchicago.edu

It would be helpful if you would tell us on which list you
read this message.  If you would like to reply by mail or
fax, send responses to:

Jane Ciacci
Cataloging Department, Room 172
University of Chicago Library
1100 East 57th St., Chicago, IL
60637
tel: (312) 702-8739
fax: (312) 702-0853

Thank you!

6/3/94

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