a. Non-serial special issues:

When a special issue has its own title and specific contents, and is not numbered in with the main serial, consider treating it as a monograph. It is up to an individual library to determine how important the contents are and whether to analyze the title. When the special issue is cataloged as a monograph, give an added entry for the serial (AACR2 21.30G/LCRI).

If special issues are not cataloged separately and are outside of the normal numbering pattern they may be mentioned on the record for the main work in a supplement note (525). Example:

Issues that are included in the regular numbering are generally not noted.

If desired, the special issue could be cataloged as a monograph. Example:

b. Special issues that are serials:

If a special issue is published on a regular basis and is thus, a serial itself, it may be separately cataloged or noted on the record for the main serial. Buyer’s guides and membership lists are common examples. (see also 17.4.3b.2 and 17.4.3.2(c))

If the special issue carries the numbering of the main work, include the special issue on the record for the main work.

If the special issue has a separate date designation or has its own numbering, catalog is separately.

Optionally, if the special issue is numbered in with the main serial and has a designation of its own, catalog it separately if the special issue is deemed important enough to warrant such treatment (see also 17.4.3.2(c)).

See also:

17.6. Special issues