---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 23 Jan 1996 12:34:09 +0000
From: montanya_rosa@BIBL.UPF.ES
Subject: Useful or useless notes

Item Subject: Texto de mensaje

Dear "serialstlisters",

Some months ago, I posted a message about how to lower the level of serials
cataloging, because Pompeu Fabra University (Barcelona, Spain) had begun a
general process in that direction.

I got many useful answers, but there was a problem: in Spain we have just
begun a serious process towards union catalogs and copy cataloging. In
short, we still do a lot of original cataloging but we hope copy
cataloging will grow quickly in the near future.

Right now, the process on lowering the level is well advanced and more
clear than some months ago. The problem is now focused on a note already
present in some form in the holdings record. Specially on the use of 362
and "description based on" note. The library committee working on the
subject of "lower level" (composed by cataloguers specialised on
monographs) wants "description based on" out, leaving only 362 (whether we
have first number or not, and in Spanish real practice, one does not have
many times even information about it). Personally, I would like to follow
CONSER practice on this subject (even for a really "minimal level").

The problem is how to explain/justify this note before the Committee. For
me, it is a internal control note (users do not see it) necessary for
cataloguers and in the interchange of records with other libraries. In my
opinion it is not substituted by holdings data. On the other hand, perhaps
I am too much conditioned by rules and routine. I would appreciate your
advice on the subject.

The other "problem" note is frequency. It is clearly seen on holdings
records, but then (with our computer system) changes are lost. ?Are these
changes important, or frequency note can be omitted without remorse?

Thanks in advance (I tried to thank the answers to my former question, but
I'm afraid that I got the message misposted, sorry if you helped me and
did not receive my thanks).

Rosa Montanya (montanya_rosa@bibl.upf.es)

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ROSA MONTANYA LACAMBRA               tel:   +34-3-542.16.78
Biblioteca                           fax:   +34-3-542.16.86
Universitat Pompeu Fabra
C/ Balmes, 132            e-mail: montanya_rosa@bibl.upf.es
08008 BARCELONA (SPAIN)
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