(The following message is being posted to several lists.  Please excuse any
duplication.)

The ALCTS publication "Differences Between, Changes Within: Guidelines on
When to Create a New Record" is available free in PDF format to members of
ALCTS, and is also available for purchase in hardcopy format.  (See
http://www.ala.org/ala/alcts/alctspubs/catalog/catalog.htm )  The book is
designed to be used as a companion to AACR2, providing guidance to the
cataloger about whether or not to create a new bibliographic record in any
given situation.  General guidelines are followed by specific guidelines
for manifestation-level records for single part monographs, multipart
monographs, integrating resources, and serials.  The text describes what
constitutes a major difference between manifestations, requiring the
creation of an original record.  The manual also details major changes
within a serial manifestation that would require catalogers to close out an
existing record and create a new serial record.  In addition, guidance is
provided regarding minor changes that would not require a new bibliographic
record, but might necessitate updating an existing record.

The ALCTS Committee on Cataloging: Description and Access has a task force
charged with maintaining the publication to keep it in conformance with the
current iteration of AACR and proposing other changes to the
publication.  The task force is eager to receive comments from users of
"Differences Between, Changes Within."  How are you using the
publication?  Are there any improvements you would like to see?  Do you
have any other comments about it that you would like to share with us?

Please send your comments by June 17, 2005 to:

Kevin M. Randall
Head of Serials Cataloging
Northwestern University Library
1970 Campus Drive
Evanston, IL  60208-2300

email: kmr@northwestern.edu

phone: (847) 491-2939
fax:   (847) 491-4345