21.2C. Serials

LC/PCC practice:

Apply this rule and LCRI only to serials (including monographic series) and to series-like phrases.

General guidelines:

1. When determining if there has been a major change or a minor change on a subsequent issue or part, compare the title on that issue or part to the title proper recorded in the title and statement of responsibility area in the serial bibliographic record. PCC practice: When deciding to update an existing or create a new series authority record, compare the title on that issue or part to the title proper recorded in the heading of the series authority record for a monographic series or other serial.

2. Multiple minor changes in the title do not equal a major change.

In applying category b)i) of 21.2C2b, consider that "one spelling vs. another" applies both in the case of ordinary orthographic variations and in the case of official orthographic changes. Consider that "a change in grammatical form" includes singular vs. plural, adjective vs. noun, and genitive vs. nominative.

In applying category b)iii), if the change is in the name of a body that is part of the title proper and the change requires the creation of a new heading for the body (cf. 24.1C), consider such a change to be a major change. Consider the presence or absence of the name or title of the official of the body to be a minor change. Consider the presence or absence of the body to whom a publication is presented to be a minor change.

For category b)v), also consider the situation to apply when the title is given in more than one script. Do not consider there to be a major change if the addition of the title in another language or script on a later issue would affect the choice of title proper if the description were based on that issue.

For category b)vii), also consider the situation to apply when the language of the title varies according to the language of the text.

For categories b)v) and b)vii), consider that there has been a major change if there is evidence that the publisher intentionally changed the title; such evidence may include, for example, a statement by the publisher or a new ISSN printed on the publication.

In applying category b)viii), consider that "a list" means at least three terms.

In applying category b)ix), note that the change from one word to another (e.g., the change from "magazine" to "journal") is a major change. The word "series" does indicate a type of resource. A word denoting frequency (e.g., "monthly") does not indicate a type of resource.

Exceptions:

1. Session Laws of the U.S. States. LC/PCC practice: Consider all changes in the title proper to be minor changes and do not create new entries (cf. LCRI 25.15A1).

2. 17th-19th Century U.S. almanacs. LC practice: Generally, consider all changes in the title proper to be minor changes and do not create new entries.