Under current practice, a change of format (or distribution) of an online serial is not considered a major change.  If all issues (including those previously issued as PDFs) are available now through Serials Solutions, I'd be tempted to not note the previous distribution method as it doesn't help with anyone trying to now obtain the content.

Steve Shadle/Serials Access Librarian         shadle@u.washington.edu
NASIG President
University of Washington Libraries              Phone: (206) 685-3983
Seattle, WA 98195-2900                            Fax: (206) 543-0854

On Tue, 13 Dec 2011, Amanda wrote:

> Hello,
>
> Here's hoping someone out there with more serials experience can help us
> decide whether we need to create a new record for a serial for which the
> mode of access has changed. The serial is Global War Studies (Online)
> (OCoLC)438824111, which used to be delivered as a PDF by email subscription.
> Now it will be accessed over the Internet through Serials Solutions.
>
> The temptation is to keep the same record and simply change the 538 (or
> eliminate as it is not required by CONSER standards if accessed over the
> Internet) with a local note about the previous mode of access, add the link,
> etc. After all, the format, the GMD, every other bit of descriptive metadata
> remains the same...
>
> But would simply updating the old record be cutting corners? What would you do?
>
> Thank you for any guidance on this matter,
>
> Amanda Haldy
> Catalog Librarian
> amanda.haldy@maxwell.af.mil
> Muir S. Fairchild Research Information Center
> DSN 493-2135   Comm (334) 953-2190
>