Date: Mon, 3 Feb 1997 12:34:36 EDT
From: "Diane Lewis" <DILEWIS@IGSRGLIB01.ER.USGS.GOV>
Organization:  U.S. Geological Survey
Subject: Re: Use of Serial Records for Circulating Materials

Howard L Pitts <hpitts@INFOAVE.NET> wrote:
>I am interested in hearing which procedures other libraries follow regarding
>serial records for almanacs, yearbooks for sports, travel guides, etc.
>Presently at my library, we are using serial records only for reference
>materials.  I want to propose to my supervisor the use of these records
>because they will aid in production by getting these materials through the
>department faster, reducing authority work or creation of new records for a
>monograph.

We set up everything even remotely serial in nature in the serials
module of our automated system.  Not only does it save cataloging time,
but it gets the issue processed and into the system quickly (we classify
serials and shelve them with the rest of the collection).  We also
use check-in dates to determine where in the library a particular
serial issue might be.

Claiming or determining that a particular year of an annual or
yearbook has not been received is certainly more difficult without
a serial record.  I guess what I'm saying is that pragmatism, rather
than political correctness, is our guide in adding a record to the
serials corral.

Diane M. Lewis, Serial Records Librarian
U.S. Geological Survey Library
National Center--MS 950
Reston, Virginia 20192
(703)648-4399
dilewis@igsrglib01.usgs.gov

"If you want peace, work for justice."--Pope Paul VI.

Views expressed are strictly my own.