Judith Hopkins posted this message to Intercat. She has asked me to
forward it to Serialst, since there has been discussion of this topic here.

-------forwarded message--------------------
Date:         Fri, 3 Nov 1995 14:52:05 -0500
From:         JUDITH HOPKINS AT SUNY BUFFALO <ULCJH@UBVMS.CC.BUFFALO.EDU>
Organization: University at Buffalo
Subject:      Re: serials vs computer files serials format
To:           Multiple recipients of list INTERCAT <INTERCAT@oclc.org>

   Several other respondents have already pointed out that CONSER
policy requires CONSER participants to use the Serials format for
serial computer files.  Whether other libraries should use the
Serials or the Computer Files format is not clear.

   It is obviously highly desirable, in our shared cataloging
environment in which libraries contribute records to a few national
or international databases such as OCLC or RLIN, that guidelines
exist AND BE FOLLOWED on how to choose which format to use for
materials that contain elements of more than one format.    This
is not a theoretical question.  While the new 006 field will permit
us to specify the characteristics of multiple formats in a single
record, the 008 field will still exist and will require us to
choose which format we consider to be primary.   Without standard
guidelines it will not only be possible but inevitable that two
different libraries, cataloging the same multi-format item, will
choose different aspects of that item as the primary one and will
supply different codes for the Type of record and Bibliographic Level
fields of the Leader (Leader 06 and 07).  It is those two values
which govern how positions 18-34 of the 008 field are interpreted.

   The LC publication "Format Integration and its Effect on the
 USMARC Bibliographic Format"  (Washington, D.C. : Cataloging
 Distribution Service, Library of Congress, 1992) contains guidelines
 on pp. 8-9 on how to choose the primary format.   I will quote from
 page 9:

If an item is _b_a_s_i_c_a_l_l_y   _t_e_x_t_u_a_l:

   Leader/06  - code for language material, manuscript material, or
     mixed material
   Leader/07  - code for monograph, serial, collection, etc.
   008 - book or serial (depending on Leader 06/07 codes) or
     archival and manuscript control
   006 - music, map, visual material, COMPUTER FILE (my emphasis),
     serial (as needed)
   Variable fields - any applicable to the form or control of the item

If an item is _n_o_t basically textual:
   Leader/06 - code for printed music, manuscript music, printed map,
        manuscript map, projected medium, two-dimensional nonprojectable
        graphic, nonmusical sound recording, musical sound recording,
        computer file, kit, or three-dimensional artifact or naturally
        occurring object
   Leader/07 - code for monograph, serial, collection, etc.
   008 - music, map, visual material, or computer file
   006 - serial, archival and manuscripts control, music, map, visual
        material, computer file (as needed)
   Variable fields - any applicable to the form form or control of the
        item.

        I interpret that to mean that as long as the serial publication
is basically textual, whether or not it exists in hard copy or only
electronically, the serial format is to be the primary one, with the
computer file aspect described in the 006 field.

         A serial video, on the other hand, since it would not be
basically textual, would be described primarily as a project medium
with the serial aspect brought out in the 006 field.

        It is possible to conceive of a serial that is composed
primarily of computer graphics with a minimal amount of descriptive
text.  Such a serial (since it would not be basically textual)
would be described as a computer file with the serial aspect brought
out in the 006 field.   With this exception it seems likely that the
serials format will be the appropriate one for most serial computer
files.

***************************************************************************
Judith Hopkins                                    716 - 645-2796 (phone)
Technical Services Research and Analysis Officer  716 - 645-5955 (FAX)
Lockwood Library Building
University at Buffalo                   ULCJH@UBVM.CC.BUFFALO.EDU
Buffalo, NY  14260-2200                 Listowner of AUTOCAT@UBVM. ...

   The opinions expressed here are my own and do not necessarily
       represent those of the University at Buffalo Libraries
****************************************************************************

forward it to SERIALST.