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W.E.B.
Du Bois Library Cataloging Manual
SERIES TRACING AND CONTROL
(GENERAL)
CONTENTSInnopac context
Authority records
Tracing decisions
Innopac context
The context of series tracing decisions is altered by the fact that, in our Innopac system, series tagged 490 0 (not traced) are included in the title index along with series tagged 440 or 8xx (traced). They are thus accessible, or "traced," although in an uncontrolled fashion. In the past, the decision to trace a series was a decision to provide access to that series. The decision to include 490 0 series in the title index means that there is some sort of access to every series and the more fundamental decision is whether that access is to be controlled or uncontrolled.
Authority records
Every controlled series and some uncontrolled series in the III database should have an authority record. Our local authority record for a controlled series should have a 645 field coded "t" and new entries of that series into the database should be traced in 440 or 8xx fields. However, if existing entries for that series in the database are tagged 490 0, there is no problem, as long as the form of entry is consistent. If the form of entry of a controlled series is not consistent, the conflict should be reported to the Series Authority Unit. Our local authority record, if one exists, for an uncontrolled series should have a 645 field coded "n", an ASUPPRESS code of "s", which will prevent the misleading cross references from appearing to the public, and a note in a 667 field in caps saying UNCONTROLLED SERIES. New entries of that series into the database should be tagged 490 0 in original or member contributed copy but it is not a problem if there are some entries in 440 or 8xx fields, nor if there are inconsistent entries.
Tracing decisions
Our policy is to follow Library of Congress (LC) series tracing decisions as closely as possible on series new to Innopac. Trace and control any series on standing order. If we have traced a series in the past that LC does not trace, a cataloger should decide on a case-by-case basis whether to continue tracing and controlling that series or not. If LC has not made a tracing decision on a series, a cataloger must make a tracing decision. The tendency should be to trace and control such a series unless the series is considered unimportant by the cataloger or a tracing/controlling decision would create serious conflicts in the database. If LC later decides to trace a series that we have decided not to control and creates an authority record for it we need not change our practice on that series to accord with LC.
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