To: SERIALST, INTERCAT, AUTOCAT, E-MEDIA

Dear Colleagues:

I am writing to convey CONSER's "interim compromise" on the issue
of how to catalog remote access versions of printed journals.  I
want to thank the many people who responded to my earlier
messages for sharing their thoughts and concerns.  We in CONSER
have spent some time developing an approach that will retain the
integrity of the CONSER record on national databases, while
allowing for a "one-record" option that can be applied locally.

I've used the term "interim" because we will reevaluate in six
months and determine whether or not to continue or refine the
policy.  I'm calling this a "compromise" because that is what it
is.  As a national program, we must still prefer the creation of
separate records in most cases in order that the national
database carry the bibliographic details of electronic resources.
However, we must also allow for a period of experimentation in
order to determine whether there are viable alternatives, at
least in some cases.  The "compromise" is allowing CONSER
catalogers to provide access to the online version THROUGH the
paper record without separately cataloging the online version.
We must be clear on the latter fact: we are not cataloging the
electronic version on the paper record, only noting its
existence.  This is not a "single record cataloging approach," as
many have wanted to call it.  But, while it is important that
CONSER participants adhere to the restrictions of the policy
below in order to retain the integrity of the national database,
locally they are free to add or subtract as much as they like.

Following is are the guidelines that CONSER will be following.
These will also be documented in upcoming updates to the __CONSER
Editing Guide__ and Module 31 of the __CONSER Cataloging
Manual__.  We will also make the policy available on the CONSER
homepage (http://lcweb.loc.gov/acq/conser/homepage.htm)

TWO RECORDS: [Both records are being created or one already
exists]

     *    Link using field 776 in both records

     *    Add the 530/856 in both records.

[Note: LC will create separate records.]

ONE RECORD: [The cataloger/institution has chosen not to create a
separate record for the e-serial]

     *    Add 530/856 to the record for paper (or other original)

     *    If a separate record is later created by another CONSER
          library, that library will add the 776 links to both
          records

530 FIELD: A 530 note will be used to indicate the existence of
the online version as well as differences in content, differences
in title, and restrictions on access.  If not all issues are
available (e.g., current only), a general phrase such as "Some
issues available online ..." may be used.  Specific designations
will not generally used to avoid constant maintenance.

856 FIELD: A note will be supplied in subfield $z that will
indicate what the URL refers to. If the e-serial is a
reproduction or other version with basically the same contents,
"z Online version:" may be used.  If there is no one-to-one
relationship between the serial and its online counterpart (e.g.,
articles are contained in a database), a phrase such as "z
Related internet site:" is more appropriate.  The subfield z
will beinput preceding the URL. [The usefulness and display of
this subfield will vary, depending on each system's programming.]

WHEN WILL THE ONE-RECORD OPTION BE APPLIED?: For the present, it
is up to CONSER members to experiment and determine the
situations in which this option will work.  We are asking that
those using the option provide feedback on its usability from a
cataloging standpoint and, when possible, from the point of the
library user.

NEXT STEPS:

1.  We will work with MARBI to define a subfield that would
contain a URL in the linking fields.  By doing so, we hope to be
able to include all information concerning the online version in
one field--776 (Additional physical form entry).

2.  Based on our experience over the next six months, we will
reevaluate this policy and report our findings.

If there are questions, please feel to contact me by phone or
email.

Jean Hirons
Acting CONSER Coordinator
Library of Congress
jhir@loc.gov
(202) 707-5947