Serials are a vital part of any library collection because they are a major source of current information.

Before cataloging serials, it is important to understand their nature and what information is to be included in or excluded from the cataloging record.

Serials have many defining characteristics which distinguish them from monographs and integrating resources.

Describing a serial can be a balancing act between describing what is found and supplying the necessary elements.

Serials are a challenge to catalog because they can change.

In addition to bibliographic records, serials are often represented in check-in files and union lists.

See also:

Module 1.  Introduction to Serials Cataloging