CCM Draft Update Available

Conser has recently posted a Draft Update for Module 31 of the Conser Cataloging Manual. Module 31 covers cataloging remote access electronic serials.

2006 NASIG Proceedings Published in the Serials Librarian

Haworth Press has published the 2006 NASIG Conference Proceedings as vol. 52, no. 1/2 and 3/4 (2006) of the Serials Librarian. There are a few articles of particular interest to serials catalogers:

The Shape of Things to Come: Resource Description and Access (RDA) / Ed Jones (presenter) and Patrick L. Carr (recorder)

FRBR in the Real World /Paul J. Weiss and Steve Shadle(presenters)

Mountains, Valleys and Pathways: Serials Users' Needs and Steps to Meet Them. Part II: Steps to Meet Serials Users' Needs: The Access Level Record for Serials, and ISSN Revision / Regina Romano Reynolds (presenter)

ISSN-L Getting Closer to Fruition

If you've been following the ISSN revision process that began back in January of 2004, then you've probably heard about the linking ISSN or ISSN-L. It is defined as follows:

the ISSN designated by the ISSN Network to enable collocation or linking among the different media versions of a continuing resource. (Source)

An update on the revision process was given at the CONSER At-Large meeting held during ALA on June 24, 2007. Regina Reynolds reported that publication and implementation of the standard is planned for 2008. You can read her update on the process in the meeting summary. ISSN-L will be an important step forward for better collocation in library catalogs. Let's hope ILS vendors will take advantage of it!

Taking the Sting Out of Serials

About a month ago, the North American Serials Interest Group (NASIG) put out a call for proposals for their 2008 conference to be held in Phoenix, AZ, June 3-9. To submit a proposal, fill out this handy form.

What topics are you interested to see in the program? Start your session wishlist in the comments below.

A Solution to the Multiple Version Problem

July 2007's issue of Library Resources & Technical Services (vol.51, no.3) features an interesting article by Julian Everett Allgood called, "Serials and Multiple Versions, or the Inexorable Trend toward Work-Level Displays." Allgood looks at revisions to cataloging rules, implementation of FRBR principles, and the MARC 21 authority format in the context of solving the "MulVer" problem. He predicts that manifestation-level cataloging will continue to be the standard, and thus sees FRBRization and an expanded use of authority records (for work and expression identifiers) as the best option to achieve better displays for multiple formats of a title in online library catalogs.

An Open Invitation

Welcome! After months of searching for the perfect information source for information of interest specifically to serials catalogers, I've finally decided to create this blog. I hope you find it both interesting and useful and please feel free to discuss any posts in the comments section.