Last Reviewed March 2011
- The first place to check is in the notes on the order record. The following cataloging terms denote serials:
- Latest only kept (abbreviated: LOK)
- Latest 2 years only kept; 5 years only kept (etc.)
- Latest on ref.
- Ser Cat
- Cat as serial
- Per Cat
- Cat as Journal
- Back Order
- Open entry
- Journal back issue
- Sometimes the Libraries don't supply cataloging instructions. But certain categories of materials should be looked at as being possible serials.
- Titles published by government bodies; association's publications are frequently serials.
- Reference books in many cases are serials.
- **Titles that make reference to designations of YEAR, FREQUENCY, and VOLUME.
Key words that give clues to the fact the a title is a serial: (also consider foreign language equivalents of the following)
- Annual, biannual, semi-annual, quarterly (etc.) (examples of words denoting frequency)
- Buyer's Guide
- Guide
- Directory
- Annual, semiannual, quarterly Report
- Program
- Yearbook
- Statistical ...(publication from a gov't body)
- Handbook (sometimes)
- Supplement (sometimes)
- Abstracts ...
- Bulletin
- Index
- Transactions (if numbered)
- Symposium or Conference (if numbered; i.e. Fifth etc.)
- Activities of ...
- Annual summary
- Memoirs
- Progress in ...
- Advances in ...
- Review of (in) ...
- Membership directory
- Research in ...
- Register
- Record
- Roster
- Studies in ...
- Etc.
- Certain kinds of materials are definitely monographs.
- MONOCAT in the cataloging note
- ANALYSE in the cataloging note
- In all cases where a date is included in the call no. in the cataloging notes, the title is a monograph EX: HM450.T37 1970
- Multivolumes sets, like the works of individuals, are monographs.
- Single issues of periodicals are frequently ordered (especially by Barker) because they are devoted to a conference proceedings or some special topic. These are normally cataloged as a monograph. Occasionally these will be a serial but in this case should say ser cat in the cataloging note.
When in doubt, ask Charlene, Garry, or any serials cataloger.
