Contact: Deb Warfield
Date last updated: September 2014
I. Introduction
II. Frequency
III. Enumeration
A. Punctuation
B. Captions
F. Enumeration: Special Instructions
V. Chronology
A. Punctuation
B. Captions
E. Chronology: Special Instructions
I. INTRODUCTION
The following instructions govern the creation of descriptive names of publication patterns. The naming conventions are important because the Library of Congress anticipates having a very large database of patterns. Thus, it is important that the names indicate the characteristics of the pattern so that the correct pattern can be easily found and to avoid the creation of duplicate patterns.
Basic principle: a new pattern is created any time ANY element of the name would be different. In general, a new pattern is not created when the elements within the pattern do not differ. Some exceptions are allowed for ease in finding the appropriate pattern. The following elements of patterns may be included in the name:
Frequency (always) [An-, Mo-, 3noYr-]
Sources of data: When patterns are created with a piece in hand, there may be different representations of the same designation (as opposed to alternative enumeration or chronology). For example, numbering may appear in arabic on one source and in Roman numerals on another. When this occurs, consult the bibliographic record and use the designation found in field 362 or 588 "Description based on" note. In other cases, use the designation that is most complete.
II. FREQUENCY
Give the abbreviation for the frequency, as found below.
An (Annual) Be (Biennial) Bm (Bimonthly) Bw (Biweekly) Da (Daily) Mo (Monthly) Qr (Quarterly) Sa (Semiannual) Sm (Semimonthly) Sw (Semiweekly) 3xWk (Three times a week) 3xMo (Three times a month) 3xYr (Three times a year) Tr (Triennial) Wk (Weekly)
III. ENUMERATION
A. Punctuation
In Patterns:
Use parentheses for captions that are not to be displayed
(year)
(*)
Use brackets for captions and enumeration that are supplied
[no.]
Separate "new ser" or other constants from the caption for the highest level of enumeration with a colon
new ser:v.
3. ser.:t
Pt.C:v.
In Pattern names:
Do not use punctuation with abbreviations
E.g., v,no
not v.,no.
Because there is a limited number of characters allowed for the name, do not include spaces between the different levels of enumeration
E.g., v,2no
B. Captions
E.g., In pattern name: An-bd | yr
In pattern (1st level of enumeration): Bd
2. If the designation is given in more than one language on the piece, refer to the bibliographic record and choose the caption in the language given first in field 362 or the 588 "Description based on" note.
3. When there is enumeration but no caption apply the following:
a. If the second level of enumeration lacks a caption and is separated from the first by a mark of punctuation, the punctuation can serve as the caption
E.g., On piece: Volume 12/3 1998
In pattern: 1st level: v.; 2nd level: /
In name: Mo-v,12/ | yr
b. In other cases where there is enumeration but no captions, use (*) in the pattern and in the name
E.g., On piece: 26 1999
In pattern: 1st level: (*)
In name: An-(*) | yr
E.g., On piece: 8:3 March 1999
In pattern: 1st level: (*) 2nd level: :
In name: Mo-(*),: | yr,mo
4. When the year constitutes the first level of enumeration because the numbering restarts with each year, give as the caption for the first level of enumeration: (year).
E.g., On piece: no. 3 1999
In pattern: 1st level: (year)
In name: Qr-(year),4no
E.g., On piece: 1998-4
In pattern: 1st level: (year); 2nd level: -
In name: Bm- (year),6-
C. Levels and relationships
1. Record up to three levels of enumeration. Each level relates to the level immediately above it. Numbers may be used with the levels when they are other than the default. Defaults are given below.
a. 1st level. Give only the caption for the highest level. If there is more than one volume per year, do not indicate the number of volumes.
E.g., Mo-v,12no | yr,mo
Mo-v,3no | yr,mo {NOT: Mo?4v,3no | yr,mo}
b. 2nd level. Record the number of issues per volume in all cases (not the number of issues per year)
E.g., Mo-v,12no
E.g., Mo-v,10no
c. 3rd level. Follow the instructions for the 2nd level.
d. When there are more than three levels, in brackets add the number of additional levels preceded by a + following the specification of the third level.
E.g., Mo-v,2pt,6no, [+2] | yr,mo,day
D. Numbering scheme
Arabic (e.g., 1, 34, 598)
Roman upper case (e.g., IV, XI)
Roman lower case (e.g., iii, iv)
Alphabetical upper case (e.g., A, B, C)
Alphabetical lower case (e.g., a, b, c)
Note: There is no provision for ordinal numbers, such as 2nd, 15th ed., 340th, etc. Instead, use the number alone and code as "arabic": 2, 15, 340.
2. For all enumeration, the default is Arabic. If the scheme is other than Arabic, give one of the following codes in brackets [ ] following the caption for the level of enumeration.
Roman upper case [R]
Roman lower case [r]
Alphabetical upper case [A]
Alphabetical lower case [a]
E.g., Qr?v[R],4no[r]
Mo?v,12no, pt[A]
Mo?v,6no[R]+ {continuous numbering in Roman numerals}
E. Numbering continuity
Note: Some serials have alternative enumeration that is consecutive; see F below.
E.g., Mo-v,12no+ | yr, mo
E.g., Mo-v,6no+ | yr, mo
F. Enumeration: Special instructions
E.g., On piece: v. 86, June 1999
In order to allow for the appropriate prediction, supply numbering in brackets.
In pattern: 1st level: v.; 2nd level: [no]; maximum=12; restart
In name: Mo-v, 12[no] | yr,mo
2. New series, 2nd series, etc. When a series begins a new system of numbering, often the numbering is accompanied by words such as "new series" or "3eme serie" In such cases, treat the words as part of the first level of enumeration, separating them from the caption with a colon (:).
E.g., On piece: 3eme Serie, Annee 1980, Tom XXV No 8 Octobre
In pattern: 1st level: 3.Ser.:t continuous
In pattern: 2nd level: no restart
In name: Mo-3.ser:t, 12no | yr,mo
IV. ALTERNATIVE ENUMERATION
If present, use "[+E] and follow this with an equals sign (=) and the caption. When a single level of enumeration is given, assume that it is continuous and do not add a plus + sign following the caption.
E.g., Mo-v,12no [+E=issue no] | yr, mo
V. CHRONOLOGY
Note: chronology is always given from highest (year) to lowest (day)
A. Punctuation
Mo-v,12no | yr,mo
E.g., An-yr
Qr/fre-yr,seas
a. Separate each level of chronology with a comma but no space (e.g., yr,mo,day)
b. Do not use ending punctuation in abbreviations (e.g., yr,mo)
B. Captions
Abbreviations yr - year mo - month day (no abbreviation) wk - week seas - season mo-mo - month span (e.g., July-Sept.)
C. Levels of chronology
E.g., On piece: 1999 April 3, 1999
In name: Annual = An-yr not: An-yr,mo,day
D. Seasonal chronologies
Indicate the actual seasons when not all four are issued, as in the case of a semiannual (e.g., Sa-v,2no | yr,seas[Sp/Au])
E. Chronology: Special instructions
Examples:
Year: 1999/2000
In publication pattern: Year
In name: Yr
In subscription pattern: 1999
When checked in: 1999/2000
Months: January-March 2000
In publication pattern: Quarterly [Jan.-Mar,
In name: Yr, mo
In subscription pattern: Jan. 2000
When checked in: Jan-Mar. 2000
VI. Alternative chronology
There is only one level of chronology accommodated and, at present, Voyager has no capability for using the alternative chronology. However, in anticipation of future use and to accommodate potential output of patterns in MARC holdings format, give the caption for the highest level of alternative chronology. In most cases this will be "year."
E.g., Vo1 8, no. 5, July 1, 1999 = July 1, 5787
Alt. Chronology = year
Indicate the presence of alternative chronology in the name by [+C]
Mo-v,12no | yr,mo,day [+C]