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In cataloging, serials are titles that are issued in successive parts and have no predetermined end (such as journals and magazines, newspapers, and monographic series). A periodical is a type of serial, and the word is often used to mean magazines and journals, collectively. The library's Acquisitions department uses the terms "serial" and "periodical" in a slightly different way; they are used with PO lines to specify how an order should be handled be by Acquisitions staff. In these instructions, serial will be used in the cataloging sense and not restricted to the "serial" order type.
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Here is a simplified example of a call number for a recent issue of a journal (Rice Algebra Review, made up for this example) published annually on the topic of Algebra: QA150 .R53 v.13 2024.
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Terminology used in call numbers
Terms for issues and completeness
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| Rule | Examples |
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| Specify ranges in volumes we sent for binding by using a hyphen. For enumeration, do not repeat the unit abbreviation. For chronology, do not repeat the first 2 digits of the end year if they are the same as the start year. |
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If issues are missing, record them in the call number when practical. If unpracticalimpractical, use "inc." in the call number instead and note the missing material in the holdings record. Do Commas are used to indicate gaps in the holdings. For spine labels (which is determined by the item description), do not add a space after commas, which are used to indicate gapsthe comma. |
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| Field | Description | Examples | ||
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| Enumeration A | The primary (broader) level of numbering. Also use this field if there is only one level of numbering. Enter the number only–-do not include captions. For all fields: Ranges are indicated with slashes (for issues published together) or hyphens (for issues later bound together). If a bound volume contains issues published together as well as other issues, only use a hyphen. |
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| Enumeration B | The secondary (narrower) | Enumeration B | The secondary (narrower) level of numbering. Leave this field empty if there is only one level of numbering. Enter the number only–do not include captions. |
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| Chronology I | The primary (broader) level of chronology, usually the year. |
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| Chronology J | The secondary (narrower) level of chronology, usually the month or season. Leave this field empty if there is only one level of chronology. |
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| Description | This field is printed on the spine label immediately after the base call number, so include captions. Be consistent and format the description to include the same levels of enumeration and chronology and the same captions as previous issues or bound volumes. Follow the input convention rules above to format this field. Note: The description does not have to include all elements from the enumeration and chronology fields. |
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Extra care is required when handling records for incomplete bound volumes of serials. In alignment with Ranganathan's 4th law of library science ("Save the time of the reader"), the missing material should be clearly communicated to users so that they don't have to thumb through the item in order to see what is missing. The missing material should be recorded issues should have already been noted in the holdings record as well as in the call number for the bound volume when possible.part of the normal receiving process, but always verify that the information is actually there and edit the holdings record if necessary. Add a public note to the item to indicate the missing content:
Example: A serial is published 4 times a year and issues are sent for binding as each year is completed. However, issue number 3 from volume 19 (2024) is missing.
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- Enumeration A = 19
- Enumeration B = 1-2, 4
- Chronology I = 2024
- Chronology J = blank
- Description = v.19 no.1-2,4 2024 (this description is brief enough that we do not need to use "inc." here)inc.
- Notes tab > Public note = v.19 no.3 missing
Example: A serial is published monthly and issues are sent for binding as each year is completed. However, the August issue (number 8) is missing from volume 5 (1994).
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- Enumeration A = 5
- Enumeration B = 1-7, 9-12
- Chronology I = 1994
- Chronology J = Jan.-July, Sept.-Dec.
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- Description = v.5
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- Description = v.5 1994 inc.
The missing issue should have already been noted in the holdings record as part of the normal receiving process, but always verify that the information is actually there and edit the holdings record if necessary:
866 41 $$8 0 $$a v.5:no:1 (1994:Jan.)-v.5:no.7 (1994:July), v.5:no:9 (1994:Sept.)-v.5:no.12 (1994:Dec.)It can be helpful to add a public note ($$z) to let users know what is missing. The note should be user-friendly and does not have to adhere to input conventions. Here is the same 866 field with an added public note:
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- 1994 inc.
- Notes tab > Public note = v.5 no.8 (August 1994)
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- missing