CONSERline
Newsletter of the
CONSER (Cooperative Online Serials) Program
Library of Congress and OCLC, Inc.
No. 1 ISSN 1072-611X Jan. 1994
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CONTENTS
Welcome to CONSERline
CONSER Subject Seminar
CONSER Accepts American Theological Library Association as
Associate Member
The CONSER Electronic Communications Network
New USNP Listserv
CONSER Documentation Update
CONSER People
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WELCOME TO CONSERline
Welcome to the first issue of _CONSERline_. Our new electronic
newsletter continues the newsletter, _CONSER_, which was begun in
1978. Like its predecessor, _CONSERline_ is a cooperative effort
of the CONSER (Cooperative Online Serials) Program, containing
contributions from program members that cover news of the Program
and serials cataloging issues. The newsletter is issued jointly
by the Library of Congress and OCLC.
The change to an electronic newsletter affords the opportunity to
reach a broader audience and allows for more timely dissemination
of information, as well as being a cost savings. While the first
issues will closely resemble the paper version, we expect the
newsletter to evolve as the possibilities of online transmission
become more apparent.
Changing a title is always a difficult decision for serialists.
But knowing that the change in format would require a new
bibliographic record, we decided on the change, even though we
risked receiving one of the *worst serial title change of the
year* awards! More importantly, we, and many others in CONSER,
think that the title _CONSERline_ is more reflective of the
online nature of our newsletter.
We hope you will find _CONSERline_ informative and stimulating.
The Editors
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CONSER SUBJECT SEMINAR
by Maureen Landry (Library of Congress)
A subject seminar for CONSER catalogers was held at the Library
of Congress, November 4-5, 1993. The impetus for the seminar was
the growing recognition that most CONSER institutions provide
subject analysis according to LC policy and that LC catalogers
should make better use of these subject elements when using
CONSER records, as is done with the descriptive portion. Many in
CONSER felt that a forum, with both the participants and LC
subject experts, would be helpful in determining areas in which
CONSER catalogers could benefit from LC's subject expertise. LC
will ultimately also be a beneficiary by being able to take
advantage of the entire CONSER record.
The seminar was highly successful thanks to the expert guidance
and enthusiastic support provided by subject specialists in LC's
Cataloging Policy and Support Office (CPSO) and Regional and
Cooperative Cataloging Division (RCCD) and to the active
participation of the attendees.
Much of the seminar was devoted to a lively discussion of
previously submitted questions on subject cataloging,
classification, and shelflisting. Mary Kay Pietris (CPSO) opened
the discussion by offering six possible definitions of quality
subject cataloging. After discussion, the group agreed that a
combination of four of the definitions would constitute the
ideal. These would require headings to be appropriate to the
work, sufficiently specific, currently valid, and correctly
constructed and tagged. Conformance with the requirements of the
_Subject Cataloging Manual_ was also considered desirable.
To support quality subject analysis, the Committee suggested that
required documentation would include: (1) The online subject
authority file; (2) _Subject Cataloging Manual: Subject
Headings_; (3) _Free-Floating Subdivisions: An Alphabetical
Index_; (4) _LC Subject Headings Weekly Lists_; (5) _Library of
Congress Classification Schedules_; (6) _Subject Cataloging
Manual: Classification_; (7) _Subject Cataloging Manual:
Shelflisting_. The CONSER Policy Committee will continue the
discussion of what constitutes quality subject analysis for
CONSER and evaluate the extent of required documentation.
During a discussion of CONSER policy regarding maintenance of
subject headings, attendees acknowledged that institutional
practices vary and that the issue should be further addressed by
the Policy Committee. Other topics discussed included: treatment
of unstaffed programs and projects; discrepancies in the
definition of *Periodical* found in the _Subject Cataloging
Manual_ and the _AACR_ definition used for the fixed field serial
type code; use of *Newspapers* as a subdivision under place name
headings; and clarification of the indicator values in the 050
field. Several of these issues were promptly resolved while
timely investigation of others was promised by CPSO.
CONSER members were encouraged to submit proposals for new
headings via RCCD. Judy Henderson (RCCD) explained her
Division's role as the facilitator in the process of submitting
proposals for new subject headings, subdivisions, or changes to
existing authority records. She also described the online
submission of subject heading proposals through LC MARVEL.
One of the objectives for the forum was to develop a mechanism
for ongoing feedback and communication between LC and CONSER
members. RCCD and SRD are working together to provide this
connection via a short-term analysis of subject elements in
CONSER records. To keep abreast of serials subject discussions,
SRD is being *copied* on all serials cataloging questions sent to
CPSO and RCCD.
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CONSER ACCEPTS AMERICAN THEOLOGICAL LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
AS ASSOCIATE MEMBER
CONSER members unanimously approved the application of the
American Theological Library Association (ATLA) Preservation
Programs for associate membership in the Program. The
Association, located in Evanston, IL, has 190 member libraries
working in the field of religion. ATLA is joining at the
associate level, and, as such, will create, modify, and maintain
bibliographic records for serials in the CONSER database and
contribute to the technical development of CONSER through
participation in the Operations Committee.
ATLA's contribution will enrich the CONSER database by providing
an important resource for serials in the field of religion,
particularly older titles. Among the first contributions will be
records for 300 serials published primarily between 1875 and
1950. The Preservation Programs has received a three-year grant
from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and has
contracted with Research Publications International (RPI) to do
the cataloging and filming. Records created by RPI will be
contributed to the CONSER database by staff at ATLA. In
addition, serials newly added to the on-demand program and
serials filmed under contract with the Mennonite Historical
Library, which has a grant form NEH to film Mennonite serials,
will be cataloged by the ATLA catalogers and added to the CONSER
database.
In the future, ATLA hopes to involve some of the catalogers in
member libraries in contributing CONSER records. The catalogers,
many of whom have expressed an interest in participating in
CONSER, would work under the direction of and contribute records
via the Preservation Programs' staff.
Judy Knop, Director of Preservation Programs, will represent ATLA
on the CONSER Operations Committee. Some details remain to be
finalized before input of records; however, Barry Hopkins from
ATLA and Sheila Makris from RPI recently completed two weeks of
training at the Library.
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THE CONSER ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK
by Bill Anderson (Library of Congress)
Last August a small planning group in LC's Serial Record Division
met to investigate the various electronic avenues of
communication that would further the mission of the CONSER
Program. A survey was developed and distributed electronically
to canvass CONSER members on the use of electronic
communications. The survey focused on four different
communication formats: the CONSER newsletter, LC Marvel (LC's
gopher service), online discussion lists, and the use of Internet
e-mail. Questions were also asked as to the kinds of information
that should be electronically transmitted.
A review of the survey results led to seven recommendations that
were endorsed by the Program members:
1) To publish the CONSER newsletter electronically at LC;
2) To fully utilize LC Marvel for CONSER information;
3) To establish a closed listserv for CONSER Committee
members;
4) To establish an FTP site for CONSER at LC;
5) To use existing listservs on an ad hoc basis;
6) To increase the use of Internet e-mail networks;
7) To promote Internet access for all members and to
encourage electronic communication at all levels.
Program members without access to the Internet will continue to
receive information through more traditional methods of
communication.
Implementation of the recommendations will initially focus on the
three areas that are expected to have the broadest impact:
_CONSERline_, the CONSER discussion list, and LC Marvel.
The CONSER discussion list is a closed listserv for CONSER
representatives to discuss Program-related matters. Discussions
on general serial cataloging issues will be addressed on open
listservs, such as SERIALST or COOPCAT.
LC Marvel is a *Campus-Wide Information System* that provides
access to the Internet. Users can telnet to LC Marvel (i.e.,
, logon: ) and find basic information
about the Library, its online systems, programs, services, etc.
CONSER information can be found by selecting the following from
consecutive menus: Services to Libraries and Publishers, Services
to Libraries, Cooperative Cataloging Programs, Cooperative Online
Serials Program (CONSER). At present, Program information from
the CONSER brochure is included, as well as information about
this newsletter and the newsletter itself.
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NEW USNP LISTSERV
by Bob Harriman (Library of Congress)
The Virginia State Library has made possible the establishment of
an electronic forum for participants and friends of the United
States Newspaper Program (USNP). USNPLIST will allow better and
broader communication about the program and will serve as a
source of shared information about newspapers in libraries.
USNPLIST will carry USNP-specific information, such as notices of
meetings; discussion of project management issues; notices of
standards updates or procedural advisories; employment and career
opportunities; and news and information from LC and NEH. Since
the list is open, discussion will also include librarians and
archivists outside the USNP. The forum is intended to include a
broad range of questions (and answers) relating to newspaper
collections in libraries, from acquisitions and bibliographic
control issues; to access issues (indexing, full-text delivery,
newspapers on CD-ROM, etc.); to preservation concerns.
To subscribe to USNPLIST, address your message to:
LISTSERVER@LEO.VSLA.EDU (Note: listserver, not listserv)
In the text portion of your message, write:
Subscribe USNPLIST {your name}
Example: Subscribe USNPLIST Susan Smith
If you have questions or comments, please contact the list
moderator:
Erroll Somay
Virginia Newspaper Project
Virginia State Library and Archives
11th St. at Capital Square
Richmond, VA 23219
email: esomay@leo.vsla.edu
voice: (804) 786-8041
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CONSER DOCUMENTATION UPDATE
There will be no more updates to the current edition of the
_CONSER Editing Guide_ (CEG). In anticipation of the 1994/95
implementation of format integration, we are reviewing the entire
_CEG_ for format integration-related changes and areas that need
updating. The revised text with new binders will be issued in
late 1994 or early 1995. The new edition will include variable
fields relating to non-print serials, but will not cover fixed
fields for non-print serials. The focus of the _CEG_ continues
to be the input/update of serials. Fields and data elements that
are unlikely to be used in serial records will not be included,
in particular those relating to books and archival materials.
Information on the availability of the new edition will be
available from the Cataloging Distribution Service (CDS) later in
the year.
Update 1 of the _CONSER Cataloging Manual_ (CCM) has been
published and is available from CDS for $48.00 (US) and $50.00
(foreign). The update includes two new modules from parts 2 and
3 and comes with a separate binder and tabs. The two new modules
are: Module 22, *Interpreting Pre-AACR2 Serial Cataloging
Records* and Module 30, *Direct Access Computer File Serials*.
The next update will include a module on the cataloging of
microforms and additions and changes to already published
modules. At this time, updates to the _CCM_ must be purchased
separately and are not available on a subscription basis.
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CONSER PEOPLE
CONSER Coordinator, Linda Bartley, is taking a well-deserved
year's leave of absence to spend more time with her family.
During Linda's absence, Jean Hirons will be carrying out her
CONSER-related duties. Bob Harriman is representing LC on the
Policy Committee, assisting Kim Dobbs.
Dorothy Glasby retired from the Library of Congress on December
10, 1993. Dorothy served as a voice for serials for many years,
both at the Library and in the cataloging community.
A native of Blue Island, Ill., Dorothy began her career at the
Library of Congress in 1959 as a special recruit in the Library's
Program for Outstanding Graduates of Library Schools. She held
various supervisory positions in the Descriptive Cataloging and
Serial Divisions and served as the first CONSER Coordinator
before accepting the position of Assistant Chief of the Serial
Record Division, from which position she retired.
As the recognized national authority on serials cataloging,
Dorothy's expertise was constantly in demand, from commenting on
proposed national standards, to answering countless letters
requesting solutions to cataloging problems. For many years she
served as the LC liaison to the American Library Association
Serial Section's Committee to Study Serials Cataloging. In 1987
she was awarded the Margaret Mann Citation in Cataloging and
Classification for *her outstanding sustained contributions as
the preeminent authority in all major decisions on significant
activities in the bibliographic control of serials through two
decades of challenge and change.*
Her experience and wisdom will be greatly missed in the Serial
Record Division, as will her sense of humor and good will. She
and her husband, Jonathan, hope to move to Illinois.
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_CONSERline_ (ISSN 1072-611X) is published at least semiannually
(January and June) by the Library of Congress, Serial Record
Division and OCLC, Inc. and contains news of the CONSER Program
and information of interest to the serials cataloging community.
For comments or suggestions, contact the editors: Jean Hirons,
Library of Congress, Serial Record Division, Washington, DC
20540-4160, hirons@mail.loc.gov (e-mail), 202-707-5947 (voice),
202-707-6333 (fax); Liz Bishoff, OCLC, Inc., 4545 Frantz Rd.,
Dublin, OH 43017-3395, liz_bishoff@oclc.org (e-mail), 800-848-
5878 (voice), 614-764-0740 (fax).
_CONSERline_ is available in electronic form only and is free of
charge. To subscribe, send a mail message to
listserv@sun7.loc.gov with the text: subscribe CONSRLIN
[firstname lastname]. Back issues of _CONSERline_ will be
available through the listserver and on LC Marvel. To find out
what is available, send a mail message to listserv@sun7.loc.gov
with the text: index CONSRLIN. To get a specific file, send a
mail message to listserv@sun7.loc.gov with the text: get consrlin
[filename].
All materials in the newsletter are in the public domain and may
be reproduced, reprinted, and/or redistributed as desired.
Citation to the source is requested.
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Library of Congress