Cataloger's
Reference Shelf
Library of Congress Rule Interpretations
Cataloger's
Reference Shelf
Library of Congress Rule Interpretations
25.5B. (Conflict Resolution) Serials (Including Numbered and Unnumbered Monographic Series) Entered Under Title
In this section:
1. General
5. Unnumbered/numbered titles from the same body
6. Serial section title or subseries title with initial article
7. Numbering grammatically integrated with title proper
8. Serial common title or main series title not issued alone or lacking numbering
9. Serial common title or main series title issued alone or has numbering
10. Supplement title entered subordinately to main title
When creating a bibliographic record for a serial, a series authority record for a serial/series, or a name authority record for a serial, construct a uniform title made up of the title proper plus a parenthetical qualifier to distinguish the serial/series from another with the same title proper in a bibliographic record, in the heading of any series authority record (for series, multipart item, phrase, or serial), or in the heading of any name authority record. Also construct a uniform title when a serial becomes an integrating resource (or vice versa) but doesn't change its title proper.
a. Title proper is a "generic" title (i.e., it consists solely of an indication of type of publication and/or periodicity, exclusive of articles, prepositions, and conjunctions). Use as the qualifier the heading for the body issuing or publishing the serial/series. If more than one corporate body is associated with the work, choose the body responsible for issuing the serial/series, rather than the one only publishing it. If multiple bodies are performing the same function, generally choose the one named first.
b. Other situations. Use judgment in determining the most appropriate qualifier for the serial/series being cataloged. Possible qualifiers are given in the following list; the listing is not prescriptive and is not in priority order. If none of these qualifiers is appropriate, use any word(s) that will serve to distinguish the one serial/series from the other. Use more than one qualifier if needed to make the uniform title unique.
corporate body
date of publication ( FN 1)
descriptive data elements, e.g., edition statement, GMD, physical medium
place of publication ( FN 2)
Generally avoid use of the terms "print" and "text" as qualifiers because they are vague and there is not a consensus as to their appropriate use. When breaking the conflict between separate headings for the same title published in multiple physical media, add a qualifier to the heading for the physical medium that isn't printed text on paper (even if that means assigning a qualifier to a heading in an existing record).
a. Corporate body. Use the AACR2 form of the name exactly as given on the name authority record for the corporate body.
b. Place of publication. Use the AACR2 form from the name authority record for the place minus any cataloger's addition (cf. AACR2 24.4C1); record the name of the larger place preceded by a comma (cf. AACR2 23.4A1).
c. Multiple qualifiers. If more than one qualifier is needed, separate the qualifiers with a space-colon-space within one set of parentheses. Exception: if one of the qualifiers is "(Series)," give that qualifier first and enclose each qualifier in its own set of parentheses.
a. Body used as qualifier.
i. If the name of the body changes or the body is no longer involved with the serial/series, create a new record for the serial/series.
ii. If the name of the body changes but one name authority record is used for both forms of name or if the heading on the one name authority record is revised, do not create a new record for the serial/series. Change the form of name in the qualifier, as necessary, to match the heading in the name authority record.
b. Place used as qualifier.
i. If the serial/series "moves" to another city, do not create a new record. On a series authority record, add a reference from title proper with the new place as qualifier. In a serial bibliographic record, add information about the change in place of publication.
ii. If the name of the place changes and a separate name authority record is created for that name, do not create a new record for the serial/series. Do not change the qualifier. In a series authority record, give a reference using the later form as the qualifier.
iii. If the name for the place changes but one name authority record is used for both forms of name or if the heading on the one name authority record is revised, do not create a new record for the serial/series. Change the form of name in the qualifier, as necessary, to match the heading in the name authority record.
c. Other qualifers. If the information used as qualifier changes in form or fact, do not create a new record. In a series authority record, add a reference from the title proper and the changed qualifier if it would help in identification. In a serial bibliographic record, add information if appropriate.
5. Unnumbered/numbered titles from the same body:
If one body issues both an unnumbered series and a numbered series/serial with the same title, add the qualifier "(Unnumbered)" to the title for the unnumbered series in all cases of such a conflict. (For example, if the new title is numbered and the existing title is unnumbered, change the existing unnumbered series to add "(Unnumbered)" to the title.) Do not apply this technique when some issues of a series lack numbering.
6. Serial section title or subseries title with initial article:
If the title of a section of a serial or the title of a subseries begins with an initial article, create a uniform title to delete that initial article. Delete the initial article even if the section or subseries title is preceded by a numeric or alphabetic designation. In the series statement in an analytic record or in the title proper and statement of responsibility area of a serial record, give the title as found.
7. Numbering grammatically integrated with title proper:
If the title proper with grammatically-integrated numbering is not in the nominative case, create a uniform title to change the title to the nominative case. In the series statement in an analytic record, give the title as found (i.e., including the grammatically-integrated numbering). In the title proper and statement of responsibility area in a serial record, apply rule 12.1B7.
8. Serial common title or main series title not issued alone or lacking numbering:
Do not test such a serial common title or main series title for conflict by itself. Test the entire title proper (the serial common title and its section title or the unnumbered main series and its subseries) for conflict. If the entire title proper conflicts with another title proper, add a qualifier at the end of the title proper.
9. Serial common title or main series title has been issued alone or has numbering:
First, test the serial common title or the main series title by itself for conflict and add a qualifier if needed at the end of that title. Then, test that title (plus qualifier if needed) and the section or subseries title together for conflict; add a qualifier if needed at the end of the section or subseries title.
10. Supplement title entered subordinately to main title:
If the main title is already in the catalog, use its heading (may or may not have a qualifier) in the heading for the supplement. If the main title is not in the catalog, establish its AACR2 form (cf. LCRI 26.5B). Then, test the main title (plus qualifier if needed) and the supplement title together for conflict; add a qualifier if needed at the end of the supplement title.
See also: