TO: CONSER and other serials colleagues
FROM: Jean Hirons, Acting CONSER Coordinator, Library of
Congress
SUBJECT: CONSER Core Record
DATE: January 12, 1995
I am pleased to present the newly approved CONSER core record for
printed serials. This final version reflects much careful
thought on the part of all CONSER members, as well as comments
received from many others in the serials community. On behalf of
Linda West, CONSER Policy Chair, and all my CONSER colleagues, I
extend sincere thanks to Brian Schottlaender and the other
members of the CONSER Core Elements Task Force--Carol Fleischauer
(MIT), Cecilia Botero (University of Florida), Robert Bremer
(OCLC), Marianne Kasica (University of Pittsburgh), and Bill
Anderson (LC)--who worked so hard to make this a reality.
The core record, as defined below, along with detailed
instructions on its implementation, will be included in a new
chapter of the _CONSER Editing Guide (CEG)_ that will describe
all levels of CONSER records. The chapter will be included in
the first update to the new 1994 edition of the _CEG_ which
will be available this summer. Most CONSER catalogers will wait
till its issuance to begin creating CONSER core level records.
We in CONSER would like to thank our fellow serialists for your
thoughtful comments and suggestions. We received a number of
requests for fields 074 (GPO item number) and 086 (Government
document classification number) and these have been added to the
list. The most frequent comment was a question as to why we were
not requiring classification for core records, as is the case for
monographs. This matter was given careful consideration, but we
recognized that many of our members do not classify some of their
serials, including periodicals, microforms, and newspapers. We
did not want to have to code as "minimal", records that were in
all other aspects core or full level. In addition, those who do
classify use at least five different schemes. We consider
requiring field 086 to be different from requiring other forms of
classification, such as LC or Dewey, because GPO supplies the
numbers for most documents and thus, the class number is
generally readily available at the time of cataloging.
Please note that the definition below includes only printed
serials. Core elements for microforms, computer files, and other
types of non-print serials are still being defined.
Once again, thank you all for contributing to the definition of a
useful and meaningful core record for serials.
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CORE RECORDS FOR SERIALS
A definition for incorporation into the CONSER program
I. INTRODUCTION
At the end of 1992, the CONSER Policy Committee charged
the Core Elements Task Force to evaluate the nature of the
CONSER record; to determine the core elements of the record,
with an emphasis on the identification of the publication; and
to reevaluate the bibliographic requirements for CONSER
cataloging. In Spring 1993, the CONSER Operations Committee
endorsed this review of the bibliographic requirements.
In late 1993, the Cooperative Cataloging Council (CCC)
defined a core level record for monographs to serve as an
intermediate level between full and minimal level records. Only
full or core level monographic records will be acceptable as
program records in the planned Program for Cooperative
Cataloging (PCC). While the CCC has undertaken supplementary
initiatives to define core record standards for other types of
material (e.g., JACKPHY, Music), it left the definition of such
a standard for serials to CONSER.
In February 1994, the CONSER At-Large group that met in
Los Angeles indicated its interest in exploring the utility of a
core record for serials, although a desire was also expressed
to retain flexibility within CONSER. The Core Elements Task
Force was asked to draft the CONSER Core Record for Serials
Proposal.
II. OBJECTIVES OF DEFINING A CORE RECORD FOR SERIALS
A. To provide for the creation of an intermediate level
of record that is easier to create than a full-level record but
would provide more complete and authoritative access than a
minimal-level record.
B. To facilitate maintenance of CONSER records by
defining a core group of record data elements.(1)
(1) The Core Elements Task Force recommends that the
Maintenance Task Force determine which data elements are to be
maintained. In comments submitted to the Core Elements Task
Force, subject headings (and classification) were frequently
cited as being desirable maintenance elements. Record upgrading
to add these data elements needs to be considered.
III. SYNOPSIS
A. Define a Core Record for Serials.
B. Differentiate between three levels of CONSER records:
Minimal, Core, and Full.
C. Code Minimal level CONSER records as Encoding Level
"7." Code Core level CONSER records as Encoding Level "3" or
"4" {to be determined by MARBI}. Code Full level CONSER records
as Encoding Level "b" <blank>.
D. Retain 042 codes currently used in CONSER records.
E. Supply notes, name/title added entries, and linking
entries on the basis of cataloger judgement developed from a
working understanding of AACR2rev. and the LCRIs.
IV. CORE RECORD DATA ELEMENTS
A. The Core Record for Serials is defined as including
the following data elements:(1)
LEADER Code all elements M
008 00-05/Date entered on file M
06/Type of date/publication status M
07-10/Date 1/beginning date of publication M
11-14/Date 2/ending date of publication M
15-17/Place of publication, distribution, etc. M
18/Frequency M
19/Regularity M
21/Type of serial M
22/Form of original item M
23/Form of item M
34/Successive/latest entry M
35-37/Language M
38/Modified record M
39/Cataloging source M
010 LC control number M
012(2) $i NST publication date code M
022 ISSN MA (if
available)
042 Authentication code M
074 GPO item number MA (if
available)
086 Government document class. number MA (if
available)
1XX Main entry MA
240 Uniform title MA
245 Title M
246 Variant title MA
250 Edition MA
260 Imprint M
362 Designation MA
4XX Series statement MA
500 Note (source of title or DBO) MA
5XX(3) Other notes O
6XX Subject added entries MA
700- Name/title added entries MA
730(4)
780/785 Earlier/later title MA
76X Other linking fields, if considered O
significant
8XX Series added entry MA
850(2) Holding institution M
936 CONSER variable field MA
(1) System-generated fields (e.g., 040) are also part of
the Core Elements set, though excluded from this list.
(2) Needed only for first-time authentication.
(3) Information that is essential to adequately identify
the serial and/or its relationships, or to clarify access points.
(4) Bodies, etc. that are essential to adequately
identify the serial and/or its relationships, or are essential
for record access.
B. The 3 levels of CONSER records are differentiated as
follows:
1. Minimal level
a. Serial record core elements are present, as
appropriate to the item (see IVB1c).
b. Name and title headings are checked in NAF. If
present, authorized heading is used. If not, heading is
constructed according to AACR2rev., but NACO authority record
need not be submitted to NAF.
c. Subject headings are not required in new records. In
adapted records, subject headings are left as found.
d. Classification is not required (with the exception of
the 086, as supplied by GPO).
2. Core level
a. Serial record core elements are present, as
appropriate to the item (see IVB2c).
b. Name and title headings are checked in NAF. If
present, authorized form is used; if not, NACO authority record
is created and submitted to the NAF.
c. In new records, only subject headings most essential
to the identification/access of the serial are supplied. In
adapted records, subject headings are checked for current
validity and appropriateness; construction and tagging are also
checked.
d. Classification is not required (with the exception of
the 086, as supplied by GPO).
3. Full level
a. Serial record core elements are present, as
appropriate to the item. In addition, all other non-core data
elements are included as appropriate to the item.
b. Name and title headings are checked in NAF. If
present, authorized form is used; if not, NACO authority record
is created and submitted to the NAF.
c. All appropriate subject headings are included in new
records. In adapted records, subject headings are checked for
current validity and appropriateness; construction and tagging
are also checked.
d. Classification is not required (with the exception of
the 086, as supplied by GPO).
C. Use Encoding Level values for CONSER records as follows:
7 Minimal level
3/4(1) Core level
b Full level
(1)To be determined by MARBI.
Note: As it will be some time before a new encoding
level is available, CONSER catalogers will mark core records by
some other method, as yet to be determined, but in accordance
with practices followed by the Program for Cooperative
Cataloging.
D. Retain 042 codes currently used in CONSER records.
