B1.  General Principles

As defined in A3, a CONSER record is an authenticated record.  While CONSER catalogers are expected to authenticate most of the records they create or maintain, they are not required to authenticate every record.  Records that are authenticated must conform to the following:

B1.1.  Bibliographic description and identification

Creation of new bibliographic descriptions are based on Resource Description and Access (RDA), the LC-PCC Policy Statements in RDA Toolkit, and other CONSER and PCC documentation.  Guidelines for working with copy created and authenticated under earlier descriptive codes are available from http://www.loc.gov/aba/pcc/conser/documents/WorkingWithExistingRecords.doc.  PCC practices for working with microforms and other reproductions are documented in LC-PCC Policy Statement 1.11.  Records created by the U.S. ISSN Center and ISSN Canada also incorporate conventions given in the ISSN Manual.

B1.2.  Form of name and series headings

Headings for names and series used in CONSER records are given in RDA form, as of the adoption of RDA in March of 2013.

B1.3.  Classification and subject headings

Classification, when given, is based on standardized schemes.  Subject headings, when given, are based on standardized lists.  Subject headings newly input to CONSER records are at the appropriate level of specificity, are currently valid, and are properly constructed and tagged.  When authenticating existing records at the CONSER standard record (CSR) level, subject headings already contained in the record are verified against a standard authority file to assure current validity and construction.  The Subject Headings Manual, the online subject authority file, and Free-Floating Subdivisions are the standard tools for LCSH-based subject headings assigned by CONSER members.  Institutions not using Library of Congress Subject Headings are not responsible for verifying LC subject headings already present on OCLC records.

B1.4.  Content designation

CONSER records are fully MARC 21 content-designated according to Section E of the CONSER Editing Guide.

B1.5.  Level of records

CONSER records are created at the CONSER standard record level as specified in CSR documentation (http://www.loc.gov/aba/pcc/conser/documents/CONSER-RDA-CSR.pdf) or minimal level as specified in B6.  The creation of CSR level records is encouraged, as resources permit.  Minimal level records are generally limited to specific groups of serials that don't warrant higher level analysis.

B1.6.  Successive vs. latest entry

CONSER records are normally created in successive entry form; however, latest entry records are acceptable under certain circumstances related to retrospective conversion.  (See C10.)

B1.7.  Cooperative cataloging

CONSER records are created cooperatively; therefore, information in records created by CONSER members is accepted by other members, unless the information is obviously erroneous.  When questions arise, CONSER catalogers routinely consult with one another to determine the appropriate action.

B1.8.  International resource record

Bibliographic information given in a CONSER record is a composite of all known information about a serial.  This information does not necessarily reflect the holdings of any one institution.  In addition, CONSER records are created so that they may be used universally.  Policies and practices specific to one institution are not applied to CONSER records, nor is information given that is purely local in nature.

B1.9.  Record maintenance

CONSER members are required to maintain CONSER records as they become aware of the need.  (For details, see B4.)

Related fields, etc.

A3, B4, C10

See also:

Section B.  Policies and Practices

CONSER Editing Guide:  Contents