CCM Revision: Module 31, Remote Access Electronic Serials (Online Serials)

Steve Shadle and Wen-ying Lu have published a description of recent revisions to Module 31 of the CONSER Cataloging Manual (CCM) in their article, "Update on CONSER Cataloging Manual Module 31 'Remote Access Electronic Serials (Online Serials)'" in Serials Review, volume 38, issue 3 (Sept. 2012).

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.serrev.2012.08.007

The full text of Module 31 (Aug. 2012 revision) can be found here: http://www.loc.gov/acq/conser/pdf/Module31.pdf

"CONSER Cooperative Open Access Journal Project" by Les Hawkins

CONSER members have discussed a plan to provide CONSER-authenticated records for online journals in the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ). This column provides information on the Cooperative Open Access Journal Project, which is a multi-library project to provide high quality bibliographic records containing accurate ISSN data. If successful, the project could serve as a model for cooperatively providing records for other online journal collections.

The CONSER website has a page devoted to the project: http://www.loc.gov/acq/conser/Open-Access-Project.html

"CONSER Cooperative Open Access Journal Project" is published in the Serials Review, vol. 36, issue 3 (Sept. 2010), pages 167-168.

DOI: 10.1016/j.serrev.2010.05.007

Notes from the ALA Mid-Winter CONSER-At-Large Meeting

Notes from the CONSER-At-Large Meeting held January 17, 2010, are now available. Topics covered include:

• Cooperative Open Access Journal Project
• Repeatable 260 Field
• Format changes from CD-ROM to DVD-ROM
• ISSN Report
  

"E-Journal Cataloging in an Age of Alternatives: A Survey of Academic Libraries" by Xiaotian Chen and Stephen Wynn

Chen and Wynn present the results of a survey of 72 U.S. academic libraries on cataloging practices for electronic journals. The survey covered various aspects including if e-journals are cataloged, what percentage, the use of batch loading, if holdings are reported to OCLC, reasons why e-journals are not cataloged, other services for accessing e-journals, the use of A-to-Z lists and OpenURL link resolvers, and future plans to change policies or procedures. Respondents were also asked to identify persistent problems/issues with e-journal cataloging and to anticipate future trends. The researchers found that most libraries who are cataloging their e-journals are satisfied with their policies. They also found that some libraries think cataloging is unnecessary and predict that "this sentiment will grow, especially as new tools become more widely adopted."

Chen and Wynn's article can be found in The Serials Librarian, vol. 57, issue 1 & 2 (July 2009), pages 96-110.

“Taking the Sting Out of Multiple Format Serials Displays” recorded by Jean Sibley

This is a report of a presentation given by University of Kentucky librarians Marsha Seamans and Nancy Lewis at the 2008 NASIG Conference. They discussed their efforts to improve access to multiple format serials (particularly online journals) in their online library catalog. This report will be of greatest interest to libraries using the Voyager ILS, as its focus is on Voyager’s bibliographic record linking feature.

Find this report in The Serials Librarian, vol. 56 (2009), pages 220-225 or NASIG members can access it via the NASIG Web site.

“Single-Record versus Separate-Record Approaches for Cataloging E-Serials in the OCLC WorldCat Local Environment” by Lihong Zhu

Zhu’s article reconsiders the single versus separate record decision for cataloging online serials from the perspective of a library using network-level cataloging via OCLC’s WorldCat Local platform. The author outlines the decision-making process that led Washington State University to abandon the single-record approach for the separate-record approach.

"Single-Record versus Separate-Record Approaches for Cataloging E-Serials in the OCLC WorldCat Local Environment" is published in Cataloging & Classification Quarterly, vol. 47, no. 2 (2009), pages 161-170.


Note to LibX users: This article is only available online on the InformaWorld site and not the old Haworth Press site. If the InformaWorld link has not been added to your OpenURL resolver, try this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01639370802575583

More ALA Midwinter Programming

You are cordially invited to attend the following ALA Midwinter program sponsored by the ALA ALCTS Continuing Resources Section's Committee on Holdings Information.

Holdings Information Forum: E-Serials Holdings: Whether, Why, and How?

Time: Saturday Jan 24, 4:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m.

Location: Colorado Convention Center Room 301 (Denver)

Program Description: Unlike the Print world, libraries are no longer the sole suppliers of holdings data for electronic serials. The forum will examine this new reality and address such questions as: Who has the data? Who provides e-content coverage? Who needs and uses the data? How is the data exchanged? In what format? What are the format standards for electronic holdings data? And will a crosswalk between MARC21 and ONIX SOH (currently in version 1.1) benefit the display of serials holdings information in local systems?

Speakers:

Heather Staines (Springer US): The Many Facets of Metadata Exchange Between Publishers and the Research Community, and the Role that A&I Services and DOIs (Digital Object Identifiers) Play in Providing Access to Electronic Content.

Rebecca Gunther (LC) for Linda Miller (LC): ONIX for Serials: How it Can Map to the MARC21 Holdings Format

Peter McCracken (Co-founder and Director of Research, Serials Solutions):

The Function and Role of Chronology and Enumeration Information in ERAMS Tools, Such as A-to-Z Lists and Link Resolver Knowledgebases

Myrtle Myers (OCLC): OCLC eSerials Holdings and Beyond

via SERIALST

"MARC Record Services: A Comparative Study of Library Practices and Perceptions" by Rebecca Kemp

In this article, Kemp looks at MARC record services for electronic serial bibliographic records. Following a literature review and the presentation of case studies of two libraries’ implementations of MARC record services (one using Serials Solutions’ 360 MARC Updates and the other using Ex Libris MARCit!), the results of Kemp’s 2007 survey are discussed. The survey garnered 130 responses, although only 26 respondents completed the entire survey. Results presented cover issues related to separate vs. single records, challenges associated with brief records, and overall satisfaction/dissatisfaction with MARC record services.

Ms. Kemp’s article can be found in The Serials Librarian, vol. 55, no. 3 (2008), pages 379-410.

"From the Majors to the Minors: Playing the Game as the Rules are Changed" by Jim Cole

In this article, Cole gives an overview of the evolution of Anglo-American cataloging rules and how the rule changes would affect publishers and aggregators if they were to use them to organize electronic journals. He concludes that since cataloging code is continually changing regarding title changes, it does not make the best model for publishers and aggregators to follow. He suggests instead, "when a serial changes its title, if the change involves an important word in the title or if the new title could potentially be separated from the old title in a comprehensive A-Z listing of serials from multiple publishers and aggregators, the new and old titles should each be listed separately. References would be needed between the two titles, and these could be given on each title's own Web page. He then asserts that full cataloging of online journals should not be needed--brief records with a title and url should be sufficient. However he does not discuss the ramifications of the loss of several access points by doing so.

Published in: the Serials Librarian, vol. 55, no. 1/2 (2008), pages 45-58.

"Evaluating and Improving the Presentation of Serials Information in the Online Catalog" by Lori J. Terrill

Abstract:

Many factors should be considered when evaluating how serial publications are presented in online library catalogs. Both patrons and library employees utilize the catalog to locate serial titles and then must be able to determine which formats are available, as well as which issues are available in each format. Consideration of both the recording and display of serials data should be part of a thorough evaluation. This paper presents an outline for an evaluation focusing on meeting user needs. It also provides advice based on the experience of undertaking a successful project at the University of Wyoming Libraries.

This article can be found in Library Resources & Technical Services, vol. 52, issue 3 (July 2008), pages 192-204.

“Building Connections: A Review of the Serials Literature 2004 through 2005” by Cecilia Genereux

Genereux covers three major aspects of serials trends in her literature review for 2004-2005: cost, management, and access. Serials catalogers will be particularly interested in her coverage of access issues. Specific topics addressed include: FRBR and serials; new rules for major and minor title changes; aggregator-neutral records for online serials; changing roles and responsibilities of serials catalogers brought on by the proliferation of e-journals; cataloging of new types of continuing resources such as zines, e-zines, and blogs; and serials holdings records. As with any literature review, readers will want to consult the original works to learn more about the topics.

Genereux’s article can be found in Library Resources & Technical Services, vol. 51, no. 4 (Oct. 2007), pages 293-304.

MARC Record Services Survey

Rebecca Kemp, Serials Coordinator at University of North Carolina Wilmington, is conducting a survey on MARC Record Services.

You are invited to participate in a study that is designed to gather information about MARC record services from library personnel who use these services to increase coverage of electronic serials in their online catalog.

The results will provide information about how libraries are using different MARC record services, the benefits of using the services, and areas in which the services could be improved. Your participation in the study will provide valuable information about a major aspect of serials cataloging- outsourcing MARC records to vendors. The study will allow you to express your ideas about MARC record services in a formally published article.

It is unclear how long the survey will be available.

Via Catalogablog

"Single, Separate, or Something in Between: Results of a Survey on Representing Electronic Serials in the Catalog" by Abigail C. Bordeaux

Volume 7, Issue 3/4 (2007) of the Journal of Internet Cataloging includes Bordeaux's article on the single vs. separate record debate concerning the cataloging of electronic serials. I first discovered this article as a pre-print a couple months ago while doing research on the topic. While a number of articles already address the debate, Bordeaux's article provides a fresh perspective by using a survey to find out what libraries are doing in the real world. While her survey showed no clear preference in practice, those using separate records were more likely to have the majority (76-100%) of their electronic serials represented in the online library catalog. Also notable is the similar perception of patron satisfaction between libraries using the single record approach versus the separate record approach.

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.