Serial minimal-level records (MARC 21 encoding level "7") can vary greatly depending on the sources.  Non-CONSER serial minimal records in OCLC follow guidelines established in OCLC's Bibliographic Formats and Standards.  CEG Section B6, "CONSER Record Requirements for Full, Core, and Minimal Level Records," includes requirements for all levels of CONSER records.  CONSER minimal-level records are mostly input by national libraries and programs although other members are free to do so.  The U.S. and Canadian ISSN centers input minimal-level records as do members of the U.S. Newspaper Program.  The main difference between full and minimal records has traditionally been the exclusion of subject cataloging elements from minimal records, although not all minimal records lack subject elements.  Records may now be coded as minimal due to the lack of authority work, although many headings in minimal records are established ( FN 6).

When upgrading a serial record from minimal-level to full-level, if necessary, evaluate the following fields to determine if additional information is needed.

Fixed field elements for Nature of entire work/contents (008/24-27)

Field 041, Language code

Field 043, Geographic area code

Field 300, Physical description

Field 310, Current publication frequency

5XX note fields

6XX subject added entries

7XX linking entries (other than 780/785)

Authority work should also be checked if 042 code “msc” is present.  (Optional elements can be freely added if the record is not upgraded to a higher encoding level.)

21.8.1.  Adding subject analysis when upgrading minimal records

Some minimal records–CONSER and non-CONSER–do have subject elements.  Classification numbers found in fields 050 through 090 may be present and serve as a useful starting point for subject cataloging, although they need to be verified as valid and appropriate.  If a minimal-level record contains a 6XX subject heading, determine that it is valid and that it fits the serial when upgrading the record.  Also research your issues to determine if other subject headings are needed, when upgrading to full.  The following record example was upgraded from minimal to full cataloging, and included fields 082, 090, and 650 prior to its being upgraded.

Upgraded Record -- Subject Elements Added

Elvl    7

010 ## $a sn96-2800

040 ## $a XYZ $c XYZ $d NSD

022 0# $a 1091-9953

042 ## $a nsdp $a lcd

082 10 $a 302 $2 12

090 ## $a HM291 $b .D4843

130 0# $a Deviant behavior (Guilford, Conn.)

245 10 $a Deviant behavior.

650 #0 $a Deviant behavior.

 

Elvl    #

010 ## $a 98-645392 $z sn96-2800

040 ## $a XYZ $c XYZ $d NSD $d DLC

022 0# $a 1091-9953

042 ## $a nsdp $a lc

043 ## $a n-us–

050 00 $a HM291 $b .D4843

082 10 $a 302 $2 12

130 0# $a Deviant behavior (Guilford, Conn.)

245 10 $a Deviant behavior.

650 #0 $a Deviant behavior $v Periodicals.

650 #0 $a Deviant behavior $z United States $v Periodicals.

21.8.2.  Upgrading core records

There are only two differences between core-level and minimal-level requirements:  1) authority work is mandatory for headings in core records, and; 2) subject headings are generally supplied in core records ( FN 7).  In general, core records are accepted and used by participants in OCLC and CONSER.  Catalogers can freely add optional elements, as with all record levels, and core records can be upgraded to full.  If the decision is made to upgrade a record from core to full level then evaluate the serial to determine if the following information is needed, as is done when upgrading from minimal to full.

Fixed field elements for Nature of entire work/contents (008/24-27)

Field 041, Language code

Field 043, Geographic area code

Field 300, Physical description

Field 310, Current publication frequency

5XX note fields

6XX subject added entries

7XX linking entries (other than 780/785)

While subject headings are generally included in core records, additional headings may be needed to bring the record up to full level (see CEG B6.2.1 and B6.2.2 ).

21.8.3.  Upgrading "lccopycat" records

In October 2004, LC began to authenticate non-CONSER copy as  "lccopycat."  The presence of this code in field 042 indicates that the copy record has been accepted with minimal change, i.e., only obvious typos and egregiously misleading errors are corrected and further verification of the appropriateness of pre-existing subject headings is not performed.  However, all name and LC subject headings are checked against the relevant authority files and established if not found.

Records with code "lccopycat" may be upgraded to "lcd" by CONSER catalogers when verifying description according to CONSER standards. (See also CEG, Field 042 ).

See also:

Module 21.  Modifying Records