12.0B1. Printed serials
First Issue:
The basis for the description is the first issue of the serial. In determining which issue is first, disregard the date of publication, etc., and use the designation on the issues. For serials that carry numeric or alphabetic designations, the first issue is the one with the lowest or earliest (in the alphabet) designation. For serials that do not carry numeric or alphabetic designations, the first issue is the one with the earliest chronological designation. (If the actual first issue is not available, use these same guidelines to determine which issue should be used as the basis for the description.)
Serials may be issued with terms such as "premier," "sample," or "preview." The term "premier" generally implies the first true issue. Do not, however, base the description on an issue that bears only wording such as "sample," "Preview," or "Introductory issue." Such wording generally indicates that the publisher is testing the potential audience for the serial and it is possible that the serial may never be published. Such issues generally do not have numbering. An issue that bears numbering that precedes "1," such as "Vol. 1, no. 0," "No. 0," or "Vol. 0," may be treated as the first issue, provided that there is clear evidence that the issue is not merely serving as a sample or introductory issue.
LC practice: The National Serials Data Program (NSDP) creates records for sample issues in order to assign the ISSN. If LC later catalogs the serial, the description is based on the first "true" issue and a note is given to explain the sample issue.
Since the title page (or title page substitute) of the fist issue is the chief source of information for a printed serial, a title page that is published to cover the volume is generally not used as the chief source. Use a volume title page as the chief source only when there is no source on an individual issue that is sufficient for the description of the series.
If the description has been formulated from the first issue of a serial, the body of the entry remains unchanged throughout the life of the serial. If issues after the first have data different from those recorded in the body of the entry, record the different data in the note area as necessary. However, if the differences are in the title proper, create a separate record when appropriate (21.2C ). (For changes in the main entry heading, see 21.3B .)
Title Page Substitute:
If a serial lacking a title page has a title (the same title or different titles) on more than one source in the item, choose as the title page substitute the source that appears first in the preferred order of sources, listed in the rule. Use the entire page from which the title was taken as the title page substitute, not just the caption area, masthead area, etc. Do not enclose in brackets any data found anywhere on that page.
Exceptions:
1. In any instance in which the item has two or more different titles and the title that appears in a less preferred source is known (because of a trademark or other symbol that appears with it) to be the stable title that does not vary from issue to issue, use the source with the stable title as the title page substitute.
2. Apply this exception also in any instance in which two or more issues are in hand and the title appearing in a less preferred source remains stable from issue to issue (e.g., if the masthead title remain stable buy the cover title changes from issue to issue, use the masthead as the title page substitute).
3. When working retrospectively, apply the principle given above in cases where a title page is added or dropped. For example, if the title on the cover and the title on the title page are different and some issues lack a title page, the cover can be used as the chief source.
Prescribed Sources of Information (FN 1 ):
There is an error in the listing for the series area. The whole publication is the prescribed source for the series area; however, the individual sources should be given in the same preferred order as in the first part of the rule for the chief source of information (i.e., the title page) and possible title page substitutes since the title recorded in the series area is for a serial.
Series
Series title page, analytical title page, cover, caption, masthead, editorial pages, colophon, other pages
In order that the description of the reprint resemble and file with the description of the original, the earliest issue reprinted is used as the chief source for the first three areas of the description. Data for these areas may be taken from any place on the reprinted issue without the use of brackets. If it is known that the description of the original would include data that are not on the reprinted issue, the data may be supplied in brackets.
In the publication, distribution, etc., area the place of publication, publisher, and date of reprint are recorded, using brackets if the data do not come from a prescribed source on the reprint.
The physical description area give the physical description of the reprint, not the original.
A series is recorded if the reprint appears in a series.
Usually a single note gives important details about the original while other notes five necessary information about the reprint. Notes giving the sources of the title or the issue on which the description is based are not given.
See also: