It’s Got Numbering, But It Looks Like a Book: Some Factors to Ponder When Choosing Serial or Monographic Cataloging. Christopher H. Walker (Pennsylvania State University)
It’s not too difficult to determine which items could be cataloged as serials. But must any individual volume that could be done as a serial end up on a serial record? What about duplicates? Strays? Special issues? Odds and ends? The decision should weigh patrons’ information needs, treatment of previously received issues, the availability of bibliographic copy, language and subject expertise in tech services, LC’s treatment decision, and the nature of the local collection. Ideally the choice involves input from both the selector and technical services; but if the selector is not available, or defers to tech services’ judgment, it may be possible to identify some guidelines. This presentation will suggest some of the factors that might influence cataloging treatment.