Serials Clutter in Online Catalogs

Abstract

Finding and deciphering serials records in online catalogs is a challenge to many library users. To understand and analyze these challenges, the author conducted searches for scientific journal titles in the online catalogs of Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC) libraries. The first part of the study measures the difficulty of retrieving serial records from online catalogs comparing one-word versus multiple-word titles. The second part analyzes displays for complexity by measuring the length of the complete record and the length of the holdings statements. These data show the complexity of displays and indicate the potential confusion that these displays may induce in library users.     

Still Partners After All These Years: Ulrich's and ISSN

Since 2000, an Ulrich's Periodicals Directory (Ulrich's) employee has been located in the Library of Congress's U.S. ISSN Center at the Library of Congress to assign ISSN and create records for both Ulrich's and the international ISSN Register/CONSER database. How this arrangement came about, how it has succeeded over the past ten years, and the broad potential for this partnership becoming a model in both organizations for future automated data sharing and data linking is the subject of this article.     

Serials Control for the Italian Union Catalog of Serials

Abstract

European and Italian libraries are strongly involved in efforts to facilitate access to European information resources. The Italian union catalogue of serials has evolved from a traditional catalog to a sophisticated resource that provides access to serials services. Serials control is the most recent service of the union catalog with features for end users and professional staff. The software is BASIS Techlib by ID Technology (Italy), affinity partner of Open Text (USA). The ability to customize features presents a very satisfactory, easy-to-use product that might be considered interesting for union catalogs in other countries. Serials Review 2003; 29:169–178.     

浅谈国际标准书号ISBN与正规出版物

ISBN是“国际标准书号”之意，它是因图书出版、管理的需要，并便于国际间出版品的交流与统计所发展的一套国际统一的编号制度，ISSN是“国际标准连续出版物号”，简称ISBN。是国际标准号的另一个部分。我国现在采用的是13位ISBN编码，说明我国加入WTO后，已经适应了国际竞争规则。     

The Future of Serials Cataloging,CONSER and the ISSN: Conversations from the Field

What does the future hold for the shape of serials to come and for cataloging these and other continuing resources? How should cataloging change to cope with still-unknown types of continuing resources? Will there still be a need for cataloging? For CONSER? For ISSN? How can libraries position themselves to partner with nonlibrary metadata creators in a future linked data environment? Four serials experts discuss these and other questions in a free-ranging conversation about the future of serials cataloging.