Serial or Computer File Workform Enrique E. Gildemeister 07 Nov 1995 17:19 UTC
Judith Hopkins posted this message to Intercat. She has asked me to forward it to Serialst, since there has been discussion of this topic here. -------forwarded message-------------------- Date: Fri, 3 Nov 1995 14:52:05 -0500 From: JUDITH HOPKINS AT SUNY BUFFALO <ULCJH@UBVMS.CC.BUFFALO.EDU> Organization: University at Buffalo Subject: Re: serials vs computer files serials format To: Multiple recipients of list INTERCAT <INTERCAT@oclc.org> Several other respondents have already pointed out that CONSER policy requires CONSER participants to use the Serials format for serial computer files. Whether other libraries should use the Serials or the Computer Files format is not clear. It is obviously highly desirable, in our shared cataloging environment in which libraries contribute records to a few national or international databases such as OCLC or RLIN, that guidelines exist AND BE FOLLOWED on how to choose which format to use for materials that contain elements of more than one format. This is not a theoretical question. While the new 006 field will permit us to specify the characteristics of multiple formats in a single record, the 008 field will still exist and will require us to choose which format we consider to be primary. Without standard guidelines it will not only be possible but inevitable that two different libraries, cataloging the same multi-format item, will choose different aspects of that item as the primary one and will supply different codes for the Type of record and Bibliographic Level fields of the Leader (Leader 06 and 07). It is those two values which govern how positions 18-34 of the 008 field are interpreted. The LC publication "Format Integration and its Effect on the USMARC Bibliographic Format" (Washington, D.C. : Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress, 1992) contains guidelines on pp. 8-9 on how to choose the primary format. I will quote from page 9: If an item is _b_a_s_i_c_a_l_l_y _t_e_x_t_u_a_l: Leader/06 - code for language material, manuscript material, or mixed material Leader/07 - code for monograph, serial, collection, etc. 008 - book or serial (depending on Leader 06/07 codes) or archival and manuscript control 006 - music, map, visual material, COMPUTER FILE (my emphasis), serial (as needed) Variable fields - any applicable to the form or control of the item If an item is _n_o_t basically textual: Leader/06 - code for printed music, manuscript music, printed map, manuscript map, projected medium, two-dimensional nonprojectable graphic, nonmusical sound recording, musical sound recording, computer file, kit, or three-dimensional artifact or naturally occurring object Leader/07 - code for monograph, serial, collection, etc. 008 - music, map, visual material, or computer file 006 - serial, archival and manuscripts control, music, map, visual material, computer file (as needed) Variable fields - any applicable to the form form or control of the item. I interpret that to mean that as long as the serial publication is basically textual, whether or not it exists in hard copy or only electronically, the serial format is to be the primary one, with the computer file aspect described in the 006 field. A serial video, on the other hand, since it would not be basically textual, would be described primarily as a project medium with the serial aspect brought out in the 006 field. It is possible to conceive of a serial that is composed primarily of computer graphics with a minimal amount of descriptive text. Such a serial (since it would not be basically textual) would be described as a computer file with the serial aspect brought out in the 006 field. With this exception it seems likely that the serials format will be the appropriate one for most serial computer files. *************************************************************************** Judith Hopkins 716 - 645-2796 (phone) Technical Services Research and Analysis Officer 716 - 645-5955 (FAX) Lockwood Library Building University at Buffalo ULCJH@UBVM.CC.BUFFALO.EDU Buffalo, NY 14260-2200 Listowner of AUTOCAT@UBVM. ... The opinions expressed here are my own and do not necessarily represent those of the University at Buffalo Libraries **************************************************************************** forward it to SERIALST.