---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 3 Jun 1998 13:00:35 EDT
From: Michael Borries <MSBBH@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU>
Subject: Re: a question from a new journal publisher (Cathleen Tetro)

It may be new to you, but you know to ask the right questions!  Actually,
this is done a variety of ways, and I can't honestly say that one is
really
any better than another -- even as a serials cataloger.  You could publish
the first issue as a "Premier issue" or "Inaugural issue" or whatever
wording you choose, without numbering, and then begin with Vol. 1, no. 1.
Or you could do as you suggest, Vol. 1, no. 1 for the first issue -- just
make it very clear in that first issue that the next number will be vol.
2,
no. 1, so libraries and others don't start claiming non-existant issues.
For that matter, in the first regular issue, for the sake of catalogers,
you may want to mention the first issue and it's numbering.  I know you
don't plan to send any to libraries, but it would be appreciated by most
of us if you sent one to Library of Congress for cataloging.  Actually,
as I write this, I suspect my preference would be for an unnumbered
inaugural issue, followed by numbered regular issues -- probably less
confusing.

Michael S. Borries
Cataloger, City University of New York
555 West 57th Street, 16th Floor

>Date: Tue, 2 Jun 1998 15:53:32 -0400
>From: Cathleen Tetro <Cathleen.Tetro@HARPERCOLLINS.COM>
>Subject: a question from a new journal publisher
>
[snip]
>
>     My question is about the volume and number for this special,
>     inaugural, giveaway issue. Can we call it Vol. 1 No. 1, and call 1999
>     issues Vol. 2, No. 1,2,3, & 4? Or, does this special giveaway issue
>     need a volume and issue number at all? Do we start Vol. 1 No. 1 with
>     the first issue of 1999?
>
>     This is all very new to me, so I hope you can help with this question.
>
>     Thanks so much.

It may be new to you, but you know to ask the right questions!  Actually,
this is done a variety of ways, and I can't honestly say that one is really
any better than another -- even as a serials cataloger.  You could publish
the first issue as a "Premier issue" or "Inaugural issue" or whatever
wording you choose, without numbering, and then begin with Vol. 1, no. 1.
Or you could do as you suggest, Vol. 1, no. 1 for the first issue -- just
make it very clear in that first issue that the next number will be vol. 2,
no. 1, so libraries and others don't start claiming non-existant issues.
For that matter, in the first regular issue, for the sake of catalogers,
you may want to mention the first issue and it's numbering.  I know you
don't plan to send any to libraries, but it would be appreciated by most
of us if you sent one to Library of Congress for cataloging.  Actually,
as I write this, I suspect my preference would be for an unnumbered
inaugural issue, followed by numbered regular issues -- probably less
confusing.

Michael S. Borries
Cataloger, City University of New York
555 West 57th Street, 16th Floor
New York, NY  10019
msbbh@cunyvm.cuny.edu
(212) 541-0376