You are invited to participate in a survey on the treatment of monographic series. Monographic series are treated as serials or as monographs with series added entry depending on decisions at the local level. Many times individual monographic series titles have been treated inconsistently over time. With the transition from print card catalogs to automated, online library systems, past practices were transitioned that may not have effectively made use on the new environment. Now libraries are transitioning from locally maintained library systems, to shared network-level systems where local practices may no longer be appropriate.

           

The purpose of this survey is to learn how other libraries have treated monographic series in the past and attempt to determine if the new network-level environment has affected local practices or is anticipated to affect them in the future.

 

This survey is being distributed to the SERIALIST and AUTOCAT  email lists. Please take a few minutes to complete this survey or forward it to the appropriate person at your institution. While one response per library would be appreciated, we will consider all complete surveys in our analysis.

 

Responding to the survey is voluntary. No identifying information is being requested. Any personal information provided in the comments sections will remain confidential. Information will be analyzed and reported as tabulated data or percentages. The results of the survey will be used as comparative data for assessing treatment of monographic series and shared with the library community through publication.

 

The survey will remain open through midnight Friday August, 3, 2012. It should take approximately 20 minutes to complete. Any questions may be directed to Debra Spidal, Cataloging Librarian, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington. email:debra.spidal@wsu.edu

 

The survey may be accessed at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RLM8Y95

 

Linnea Marshall, Cataloging Librarian, University of Idaho, linneam@uidaho.edu

Debra Spidal, Cataloging Librarian, Washington State University, debra.spidal@wsu.edu