---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 24 Nov 2000 11:39:04 -0600
From: Gerry Mckiernan <GMCKIERN@GWGATE.LIB.IASTATE.EDU>
Subject: Re: Abbreviations as added entries?

Hello  Konstantin Gurevich /

  I am so pleased that you posted your query regarding the addition of
journal abbreviations to serial catalog records. This has long been a
professional concern to me.

  I believe we can provide a great service to our users if we add as many
standard (and non-standardized) journal abbreviations to catalog records
as possible.

  I have identified a number of *free* Web resources that provide the full
and abbreviated titles of serial publications in a resource I call _All
That JAS_ . I believe that _All That JAS_ could serve as a national and
international resource for catalogers to easily identify candidate
abbreviations for inclusion in appropriate catalog records.

 _All That JAS: Journal Abbreviation Sources_ is located at [
http://www.public.iastate.edu/~CYBERSTACKS/JAS.htm ]

and ... is a categorized registry of Web resources that list or provide
access to the full title of journal abbreviations or other types of
abbreviated publication titles (e.g., conference proceedings titles).
Selected OPACs that offer abbreviated title searching have also been
included."

  I hereby suggest that the cataloging community consider a proposal to
systematically review ALL serial records in utilities such as the OCLC
online catalog and that such serial title abbreviations be added to all
records, as necessary. Once updated these upgraded records with the
abbreviation title(s)  should replace the existing catalog records in the
local catalog.

[Perhaps consortia could apply for external funding for such a project or
that OCLC would directly support]

   As a Reference Librarian with nearly 25 years of interaction with users
at all levels, I believe that such a project would be overwhelmingly
appreciated by our patrons and by Reference Librarians (and Interlibrary
Loan departments) throughout the world. It would be an outstanding example
of cooperation among libraries nationally and be an excellent model of the
use of one digital resource to enhance another.

   Less we not forget that one of the major tenets of librarianship is to
'Save the Time of the Reader" Think of the person-years of time saved by
millions of patrons if such a project were implemented and completed!

/Gerry McKiernan Associate Professor and Science and Technology Librarian
and Bibliographer Iowa State University Library Ames IA 50011

gerrymck@iastate.edu