Following are forms to be used by institutions wishing to participate in the CONSER Program at the full, associate, associate project-based, affiliate and CONSER enhance levels. These forms are provided here in read-only format to facilitate the application process by providing online information to potential members. Files in Word for each of the application forms can also be downloaded (right click and save) from here for your convenience.

For a description of the levels and requirements of membership, see CONSER membership. Before filling out the application, interested applicants should contact the CONSER Coordinator (Les Hawkins) via phone: (202) 707-5185, fax: (202) 707-1778, or email: lhaw@loc.gov.

The evaluation of membership applications is based on the following:

• Strength of the collection and scope of expected subject/language contributions as indicated in the accompanying application (full membership)
• Scope of expected subject/language/format contributions as indicated in the accompanying application (associate membership)
• Scope and type of expected enhancement activity as indicated in the application (CONSER enhance membership)
• Scope and type of bibliographic data enhanced or maintained as indicated in application (affiliate membership)
• Quality of contributions based on a sample of bibliographic records (all categories)
• Experience and strength of serials cataloging operation (all categories except affiliate)

Send completed forms to:

CONSER Coordinator

Serial Record Division

Library of Congress

101 Independence Avenue, S.E.

Washington, DC 20540-4160

Individual completing this form:

Name:
Title:
Phone:
Fax:
Email:

Please include with the completed application form a letter of support from the library's chief officer. Mail form and letter to: CONSER Coordinator, Serial Record Division, Library of Congress, 101 Independence Ave., S.E., Washington DC 20540

Submission of this application form affirms that, in addition to the administrative and cataloging support needs detailed in section A4. of the CONSER Editing Guide, the institution is prepared to make resource commitments for the following needs or activities related to the CONSER Program:

• Active participation in the managerial and operational concerns of CONSER at large.
• Travel and per diem for staff to attend training sessions at the Library of Congress or elsewhere. CONSER training is generally restricted to matters of CONSER conventions and procedures; it does not include basic training in cataloging, MARC tagging, or terminal operations.
• Per diem for Policy and Operations representatives to attend standing committee meetings. (OCLC funds the travel expenses for standing committee meetings.)
• Support for the necessary hardware, software and telecommunications.

Please respond to the following questions as accurately as possible, using additional space as needed. We recognize that not all of the information requested may be readily available and that estimates may be all that can be provided.

A. COLLECTION/CONTRIBUTION

1. Number of currently received serial titles (excluding federal government documents and newspapers) ____________________

2. Does/will your library collect, catalog, archive electronic serials?

If yes, please explain.

3. Will retrospective conversion of serial records be part of your contributions to CONSER? Yes No

If yes, how many records will be contributed through conversion?

4. Collection strengths.

a. Describe the nature of your institution's collection, noting strengths as to subject, language and/or format (e.g., electronic) coverage.

b. Will all serials cataloging be contributed to CONSER?

1) If no, which areas of the collection will be part of your CONSER contribution?

2) Which areas will not be contributed to CONSER?

B. COOPERATIVE CATALOGING

All CONSER applicants must be independent NACO contributors. Many CONSER members also participate in one or more of the programs listed below but such involvement is not required. Describe your institution's overall commitment to cooperative cataloging and involvement in other programs.

1. Why is your institution interested in participating in CONSER?

2. Program for Cooperative Cataloging

a. NACO (Name Authority Cooperative):

Independent since:

Do you contribute series as well as names?

Number of contributions last FY (names/series):

b. SACO (Subject Authority Cooperative)

Type and level of involvement:

c. BIBCO (Bibliographic Cooperative -- for monographs)

Level of involvement:

3. OCLC enhance (for monographs)

4. Other programs or cooperative activities

C. QUANTITY OF RECORDS

1. Number of serial titles cataloged during past three years:

                                original    copy
     FY          # of records   __________   __________
     FY                         __________   __________
     FY                         __________   __________

2. Estimated annual number of records to be contributed to CONSER (including original cataloging and first time authentication of existing non-CONSER records)

3. Rough estimate of the number of maintenance transactions (updates to CONSER records) to be contributed annually

D. QUALITY OF RECORDS

Submit printouts of 20 current bibliographic records, accompanied by surrogates (copies of cover, title page, etc. as appropriate) for the serials cataloged.

1. Ten records must reflect original cataloging. The choice of the records is made by the applicant but should be reflective of the types of records that will be contributed to CONSER. At least two records must represent cataloging for non-English language titles, if appropriate. Include a record for a microform and/or electronic serial, if this format will be contributed, and a record for a supplement or related publication that is given a record separate from the record for the serial itself.

2. Ten of the records must reflect the kind of editing that would be performed on cataloging records contributed to OCLC by other institutions. The printout should be annotated so that the "before" and "after" data are clearly distinguished. Again, the choice of records is made by the applicant; however, applicants are asked to supply among the 10 records--to the extent possible--records illustrating these conditions:
   • Modification of a record to reflect a title change
   • Modification of a record to reflect changes that do not require a new record
   • Linking to a related record that is pre-AACR2
   • Conversion of a record to AACR2

E. PERSONNEL

1. Describe your institution's serial cataloging operation, including number of full/part time original and copy catalogers, technicians, and other support personnel, years of experience, and types of CONSER-related activities each will perform.
   
   

   Job title                FTE    YRS    Activities                 

   
   
   
   
   

2. Attach a brief resume of intended representatives to the CONSER Policy and CONSER Operations Committee. (The Policy representative is usually the head of technical services (or equivalent); the Operations representative is usually the head of serials cataloging.)

F. WORKFLOW

Describe your projected CONSER workflow (i.e., how serial records will be created and updated). Note specifically how you plan to submit and maintain records in the CONSER database. How do you expect CONSER membership to impact on your current workflow?

G. MISCELLANEOUS

Are there other areas in which your institution will/could contribute to CONSER that have not been detailed in this application?

Individual completing this form:

Name:
Title:
Phone:
Fax:
Email:

Please include with the completed application form a letter of support from the library's chief officer. Send form and letter via regular mail to: CONSER Coordinator, Serial Record Division, Library of Congress, 101 Independence Ave., S.E., Washington DC 20540, fax (202) 707-1178, or email: lhaw@loc.gov.

Submission of this application form affirms that, in addition to the administrative and cataloging support needs detailed in section A4. of the CONSER Editing Guide, the institution is prepared to make resource commitments for the following needs or activities related to the CONSER Program:

• Active participation in the operational concerns of CONSER at large.
• Travel and per diem for staff to attend training sessions at the Library of Congress or elsewhere. CONSER training is generally restricted to matters of CONSER conventions and procedures; it does not include basic training in cataloging, MARC tagging, or terminal operations.
• Per diem for Policy and Operations representatives to attend standing committee meetings. (OCLC funds partial travel expenses for standing committee meetings on a rotational basis.)
• Support for the necessary hardware, software and telecommunications.

Please respond to the following questions as accurately as possible, using additional space as needed. We recognize that not all of the information requested may be readily available and that estimates may be all that can be provided.

A. COLLECTION/CONTRIBUTION

1. Number of currently received serial titles (excluding federal government documents and newspapers) ____________________

2. Does/will your library collect, catalog, archive electronic serials?

If yes, please explain.

3. Will retrospective conversion of serial records be part of your contributions to CONSER? Yes No

If yes, how many records will be contributed through conversion?

4. Collection strengths.

a. Describe the nature of your institution's collection, noting strengths as to subject, language and/or format (e.g., electronic) coverage.

b. Will all serials cataloging be contributed to CONSER?

1) If no, which areas of the collection will be part of your CONSER contribution?

2) Which areas will not be contributed to CONSER?

B. COOPERATIVE CATALOGING

All CONSER applicants must be independent NACO contributors. Many CONSER members also participate in one or more of the programs listed below but such involvement is not required. Describe your institution's overall commitment to cooperative cataloging and involvement in other programs.

1. Why is your institution interested in participating in CONSER?

2. Program for Cooperative Cataloging

a. NACO (Name Authority Cooperative):

Independent since:

Do you contribute series as well as names?

Number of contributions last FY (names/series):

b. SACO (Subject Authority Cooperative)

Type and level of involvement:

c. BIBCO (Bibliographic Cooperative -- for monographs)

Level of involvement:

3. OCLC enhance (for monographs)

4. Other programs or cooperative activities

C. QUANTITY OF RECORDS

1. Number of serial titles cataloged during past three years:

                                original     copy
     FY          # of records   __________   __________
     FY                         __________   __________
     FY                         __________   __________

2. Estimated annual number of records to be contributed to CONSER (including original cataloging and first time authentication of existing non-CONSER records)

3. Rough estimate of the number of maintenance transactions (updates to CONSER records) to be contributed annually

D. QUALITY OF RECORDS

Submit printouts of 10 current bibliographic records, accompanied by surrogates (copies of cover, title page, etc. as appropriate) for the serials cataloged.

1. Five records must reflect original cataloging. The choice of the records is made by the applicant but should be reflective of the types of records that will be contributed to CONSER. At least two records must represent cataloging for non-English language titles, if appropriate. Include a record for a microform and/or electronic serial, if this format will be contributed, and a record for a supplement or related publication that is given a record separate from the record for the serial itself.

2. Five of the records must reflect the kind of editing that would be performed on cataloging records contributed to OCLC by other institutions. The printout should be annotated so that the "before" and "after" data are clearly distinguished. Again, the choice of records is made by the applicant; however, applicants are asked to supply among the 10 records--to the extent possible--records illustrating these conditions:
   • Modification of a record to reflect a title change
   • Modification of a record to reflect changes that do not require a new record

E. PERSONNEL

1. Describe your institution's serial cataloging operation, including number of full/part time original and copy catalogers, technicians, and other support personnel, years of experience, and types of CONSER-related activities each will perform.
   
   

   Job title                FTE    YRS    Activities                 

   
   
   
   
   

2. Attach a brief resume of intended representatives to the CONSER Operations Committee--usually the head of serials cataloging.

F. WORKFLOW

Describe your projected CONSER workflow (i.e., how serial records will be created and updated). Note specifically how you plan to submit and maintain records in the CONSER database. How do you expect CONSER membership to impact on your current workflow?

G. MISCELLANEOUS

Are there other areas in which your institution will/could contribute to CONSER that have not been detailed in this application?

Project coordinator:

Name:
Title:
Institution:
Phone:
Fax:
Email:

Mail form to: CONSER Coordinator, Serial Record Division, Library of Congress, 101 Independence Ave., S.E., Washington DC 20540

Submission of this application form affirms that, in addition to the administrative and cataloging support needs detailed in section A4. of the CONSER Editing Guide, the institution is prepared to make resource commitments for the following needs or activities related to the CONSER Program:

• Active participation in the operational concerns of CONSER at large.
• Travel and per diem for staff to attend training sessions at the Library of Congress or elsewhere. CONSER training is generally restricted to matters of CONSER conventions and procedures; it does not include basic training in cataloging, MARC tagging, or terminal operations.
• Per diem for Policy and Operations representatives to attend standing committee meetings. (OCLC funds the travel expenses for standing committee meetings.)
• Support for the necessary hardware, software and telecommunications.

Please respond to the following questions as accurately as possible, using additional space as needed. We recognize that not all of the information requested may be readily available and that estimates may be all that can be provided.

A. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT

Describe the project as to the following points:

1. Who will participate (i.e, institutions)?
   
   
2. Purpose and scope of the project, specifying the type of serials that will be covered:
   
   
3. Type and quantity of records to be contributed, including the level of records:
   
   
4. Expected length of project:
   
   

   If not ongoing, how will maintenance of records be addressed?
   
   

5. Training needs:
   
   
6. Other factors not already addressed:
   
   

B. COOPERATIVE CATALOGING

1. Are all members of the project currently participating in NACO?

2. If no and if applicable, which institutions will provide name authorities?

3. Are there other aspects of cooperative cataloging that will be involved (e.g., subject authority contribution, etc.)? If yes, please explain.

C. QUALITY OF RECORDS

Submit printouts of 10 current bibliographic records that exemplify the types of records that would be created by project participants. The records should include 5 original and 5 edited from existing copy, if possible.

D. PERSONNEL

1. If the project coordinator is not currently a CONSER member, attach a brief resume.

2. List the institutional representatives to the project and their job title.

E. WORKFLOW

Describe how the project will operate, including record review, authentication and submission of records.

F. MISCELLANEOUS

Include here other relevant aspects of the project that have not been covered above.

Contact person to the CONSER Program:

Name:
Title:
Phone:
Fax:
Email:

Submission of this application form affirms that, in addition to the administrative and cataloging support needs detailed in subsection A4. of the CONSER Editing Guide, the institution is prepared to make resource commitments for the following needs or activities related to the CONSER Program:

• Travel and per diem for staff to attend training sessions at LC or elsewhere, or to pay the same for LC staff to come to your institution. CONSER training normally is restricted to matters of CONSER conventions and procedures.
• Support for the necessary hardware, software and telecommunications.

A. Specify the type of contribution to be made, including the specific MARC fields that will be added or maintained.

B. Estimated number of records that will be maintained each year:

C. Information about your organization:

Nature of the organization:

Number of serials controlled:

Estimated annual volume of activity:

D. Give the job titles and full-time equivalent count for the personnel that would be associated with CONSER work.

     Job title               FTE

E. Attach a resume for the individual named as CONSER contact.

F. Describe the expected CONSER workflow.

G. Give in the letter of transmittal other information you consider relevant in support of your application.

Contact person:

Name:
Title:
Phone:
Fax:
Email:

Please include with the completed application form a letter of support from the Library's Head of Technical Services, or equivalent. Mail form and letter to: CONSER Coordinator, Serial Record Division, Library of Congress, 101 Independence Ave., S.E., Washington DC 20540

Submission of this application form affirms that the institution is willing to support the activities associated with enhancing the CONSER database:

• Maintaining subscriptions to CONSER documentation, as applicable
• Supporting staff time for review and consultation with the CONSER mentor (usually done via email, phone, fax, etc.)
• Providing online access to OCLC

Please respond to the following questions and requests as accurately as possible, using additional space as needed. We recognize that not all of the information requested may be readily available and that estimates may be all that can be provided.

A. COLLECTION/CONTRIBUTION

1. Collection. Describe the nature of your institution, strengths of the collection, nature of the institution, and the number of serial titles held.

2. Expected type(s) of enhance contributions.

1. Explain the type of contributions that your institution intends to make, specifically noting whether you will enrich CONSER records with specific data, maintain data in CONSER records, or a combination of both (see A4.2.4 for more information).
   
   

2. Explain the scope of the intended contributions (e.g., general maintenance, addition vernacular data in CJK records, addition of other class numbers, subject headings, etc.)
   
   

3. Estimated annual number of CONSER Enhance contributions:
   
   

3. CONSER Mentor

New CONSER Enhance members work directly with a CONSER participant in a mentoring environment. Is there a particular institution that you already have contacts with that you would like to work with?

B. COOPERATIVE CATALOGING

CONSER Enhance members who will contribute name headings to CONSER records must be members of NACO. Describe your institution's overall commmitment to cooperative cataloging and involvement in other programs, as applicable.

1. Why are you interested in becoming a CONSER Enhance participant?

2. Program for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC)

1. NACO (Name Authority Cooperative)

   Independent since:

2. SACO (Subject Authority Cooperative)

   Type and level of involvement:

3. BIBCO (Bibliographic Cooperative--for monographs)

   Level of involvement:
   
   

3. OCLC enhance (for monographs)

4. Other programs or cooperative activities

C. QUALITY OF CONTRIBUTIONS

Submit printouts of 10 serial records, of which 6 must be CONSER records, with hand-marked additions or changes that represent the type of CONSER Enhance contributions your institution intends to make.

D. PERSONNEL

Describe the serials cataloging operation at your institution, including all those that will participate in CONSER Enhance.

Job title            FTE    YRS     Activities 

F. WORKFLOW

CONSER Enhance contributions are made to records on the OCLC database. How do you expect that contributing to CONSER Enhance will impact on your serials worklow, if at all?

G. MISCELLANEOUS

Give here (or in the letter of transmittal) other relevant information in support of your application.

Go to:

CONSER Program Home Page

Program for Cooperative Cataloging Home Page

Library of Congress Home Page

Library of Congress