Date: Wed, 26 Feb 2003 15:15:23 -0500
From: "Jean L Hirons" <jhir@loc.gov>
Subject: Removal of 510 fields from CONSER records

This message is being distributed to multiple lists; please excuse the
duplication.

Dear Colleagues,

In November 2002, the Policy Committee of the Program for Cooperative
Cataloging voted to remove most of the abstracting and indexing coverage
fields (field 510) from CONSER records.  This data was added as part of
a special project during the mid-1980s with the intention that it would
be maintained over time. Unfortunately, this has not been the case.
There are many new services not reflected by CONSER records and there
has been no means to verify the existing data. However, 510 fields for
Chemical Abstracts continue to be actively maintained and will be
retained in CONSER records.

This has been a difficult decision. A CONSER task force some years ago
queried the library community as to whether 510 fields should be deleted
or retained but results were inclusive, with a 50-50 split. The final
decision was based on a recognition that the data has served its purpose
well, is now readily available online from other sources, and can never
be actively maintained in CONSER records.

OCLC plans to begin the systematic removal of the 510 fields at the end
of February and will continue this process through the spring.

Jean Hirons
CONSER Coordinator
Library of Congress
101 Independence Ave. SE
Washington, DC 20540-4160
voice: 202-707-5947
fax: 202-707-1778
email: jhir@loc.gov