Regina Romano Reynolds

Harmonizing Bibliographic Control of Serials in the Digital Age

ABSTRACT Two forces acting on the bibliographic control of serials are described: the desire to harmonize international standards and practices, and the impact of electronic serials. By breaking out of traditional publishing patterns, electronic serials have called into question current cataloging rules definitions (including the very definition of “serial”), and practices. Three key standards that affect bibliographic control of serials are currently undergoing revision: AACR2, ISBD(S), and ISSN rules. Areas where harmonization of these rules and standards would be of most benefit to the cataloging and information communities are discussed.

The Missing Link: The Evolving Current State of Linked Data for Serials

Linked data have the potential to expose descriptive metadata about serials and serials relationships on the open Web and allow creative connections between library information about serials and the seemingly infinite elements of Web data. Linked data may also hold the potential to solve some classic serials dilemmas including latest versus successive entry and single versus multiple records for print and online. How do these possibilities mesh with the evolving current state of linked data projects in the commercial and library sector as well as with the Library of Congress’ Bibliographic Framework Initiative (BIBFRAME)? The three sections of this article will present different viewpoints about linked data and serials. An “early experimenter” and member of the group modeling BIBFRAME serials will discuss her experiences and thoughts on future directions. The head of the United States International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) Center will take an ISSN perspective, looking at ISSN’s potential in the linked data environment as well as discussing international work modeling serials according to Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records (object-oriented) (FRBR-oo) and how ISSN fits into the development of BIBFRAME. Finally, a publisher from a company that has reorganized some of its infrastructure and processes to facilitate linked data will share the goals and provide examples of the benefits of that project. The two constant themes throughout the article are linked data and serials.

Seriality: it’s not just for serials any more

The challenges to traditional cataloguing posed by electronic publishing, in particular, serials publishing, are described. The revision of the Anglo‐American Cataloguing Rules, 2nd ed. rev. to accommodate these changes and to better reflect seriality is discussed in terms of various recommendations that will be included in a report to the Joint Steering Committee for Revision of AACR and available for worldwide review.

The Tao of Serials: 101 Things Non-Catalogers Should Know About Serials ... or Is It Continuing Resources?

Serial catalog records must be interpreted and understood by a wide variety of catalog users: collection development, acquisitions, public services staff, patrons, and even catalogers themselves. This NASIG preconference workshop covered past and current cataloging rules as well as how the applications of these rules are recorded in the MARC 21 format. Key MARC fields were explained, and the presenters demonstrated how some OPACs handle serials-specific information to either the benefit or detriment of catalog users. Also discussed was the expanded definition of continuing resources and how the application of this definition affects cataloging decisions. New standards for next generation catalogs will need to take into account the FRBR (Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records) conceptual model as well as the development of other metadata content and communication standards beyond both AACR2 and MARC 21.

Having E-Journal Title and ISSN Problems? Have Some PIE-J!

PIE-J [Presentation and Identification of E-Journals] is a set of developing National Information Standards Organization–recommended practices that tries to resolve some of the “pain points” associated with electronic journals. Regina Reynolds, at the Mississippi State University Libraries eResource & Emerging Technologies Summit in August 2012, presented these pain points and the attempts of PIE-J to overcome the obstacles.

Metadata in a Digital Age: New Models of Creation, Discovery, and Use

Metadata is critical to finding content. However, the expansion of digital content, rapid changes in access and use, and transitions in the digital supply chain pose tremendous challenges to the effective organization, description, and management of this information. Seven speakers from different communities in the digital supply chain addressed various aspects of this important topic. Participants in this preconference session gained a valuable overview of and an insight into the many issues associated with creating and distributing metadata in the digital age.

Journal Title Display and Citation Practices

In this tactics session two Library of Congress catalogers and one former Library of Congress cataloger discussed how metadata issues with journal title presentation on provider and publisher websites can be problematic. Through a series of examples, the speakers demonstrated how lack of metadata and citation practices result in users not finding content and libraries not getting access to content for which they paid. Reactions from publishers and attendees were welcomed with the goal of enhancing communication among stakeholders and generating interest to form a collaborative effort in establishing a NISO working group to develop best practices with journal title display and citation practice.

Unique identifiers in libraries : ISSN revision

ABSTRACT This article is an updated version of an article based on a NASIG 2005 presentation that explored the background and progress of the revision of the ISSN standard. The ISSN standard, ISO 3297, has been in existence for over 30 years. ISO standards are reviewed every five years for relevance and to determine if they need updating. For most of its lifetime (with a few exceptions when more significant revisions have occurred), ISO 3297 has been approved without substantial revision. However, the 2003 ISO review resulted in the decision to revise the standard to better meet the needs of the digital environment. A Working Group was formed in late 2003 to revise the standard and, in ISO voting completed November 6, 2006, the revised standard was approved unanimously. Although the assignment of separate ISSN to each medium version of a continuing resource is confirmed in the revised standard, a new mechanism is described, called the linking ISSN (ISSN-L), which is intended to enable the use of ISSN in cases where finding or linking to a continuing resource without regard to medium is desired. Publication of the revised standard is slated for April 2007.

ISSN: Dumb Number, Smart Solution

SUMMARY Presents an overview of the ISSN (International Standard Serial Number) in relation to current cataloging codes and evolving metadata standards. Covers the evolution and development of ISSN as a serials identifier; harmonization efforts with AACR2; the functions of identifiers in the electronic age; and the ISSN as a solution to current concerns in areas such as identification of serials and continuing resources, check-in, and obtaining metadata for electronic resources. Issues surrounding multiple manifestations and linking are also discussed. The National Serials Data Program functions as the official ISSN Center in the United States. As such, it works closely with the publishing community in assigning 5,000 to 6,000 ISSN numbers per year to American serials. The ISSN has the potential for identifying and providing access to serials and, in the near future, to many continuing resources as well.

Back to the future of AACR: retooling former cataloging practices to solve problems old and new

Abstract New forms of publication have called into question AACR2’s current division of the type of publication into monographs and serials. This paper analyzes the recommendations in the April 1999 report to the Joint Steering Committee (JSC) on AACR, “Revising AACR2 to Accommodate Seriality.” The JSC report presents a new type of publication model, which recognizes elements of seriality in resources that do not meet the current AACR2 definition of serial. Recommendations in the JSC report attempt to provide rules for the cataloging of new forms of materials as well as solutions to other current cataloging problems. Some of these solutions are based on incorporating and adapting the best of former rules and practices. Anticipated benefits of the rule revision include harmonization of AACR2 with international standards, reduction of needless title changes, and a more holistic approach to serials cataloging.