Date: Fri, 31 May 1996 15:37:23 -0700
From: Steve Black <blacks@ROSNET.STROSE.EDU>
Subject: Skipped issues and mysterious pattern changes

  Like those who pine for the old card catalog, sometimes I wonder
whether online catalog serials modules are really superior to the old
Kardex for checking in serials.
  When publishers change the publication pattern and provide few clues to
what the new pattern will be, my serials module is *completely*
unforgiving.  The Kardex was patient, willing to wait and see what will
come next, just as I must do.  It doesn't say, "Guess right, or do it all
over again later!"
  When publishers skip an issue, and decide on a whim to just forget
Autumn and call Vol.x no.x Winter instead, my computer screen stares at
me with those blank, beady little ASCII characters, laughing at me.
The Kardex was sympathetic, and happily accepted an asterisk and a
scribbly note.  A blank box made the card brighter and cheerier, and did
not demand any more work on my part.  My online catalog insists that I
fix the gap, or else it will punish me with false claims, no claims, or
phantom holes in the collection.

  But perhaps it's just *my* online system that's difficult?

  Anyone with handy tricks for dealing with skipped issues and mysterious
publication pattern changes, please share!

Steve Black
Serials Librarian
The College of Saint Rose
Albany, NY
blacks@rosnet.strose.edu