PCC Resources for
- What do I do if the title is already authenticated?
- A print version record is already authenticated. Do I need to create an eSerial record?
- What do I do if my library doesn’t have the language expertise to do authority work?
- Am I required to update my OCLC holdings for any titles that we catalog as part of this project?
- There are a lot of duplicate records for some of these titles. I report them for deletion?
- How do I report the titles that my institution has authenticated?
- What do I need to report?
- Title changes: how to I report multiple records for a single entry on the spreadsheet?
- What do I do if the URL on the spreadsheet doesn’t work?
- Am I required to assign a Library of Congress classification number?
Question 1: What do I do if the title is already authenticated?
Answer: Over the course of the project, it is likely that other CONSER members may authenticate a record for a title on your list. Just report these on the master spreadsheet with the existing LCCN & OCLC record number. You do not need to indicate that you did not authenticate these records yourself.
Question 2: A print version record is already authenticated. Do I need to create an eSerial record?
Answer: Yes. If an authenticated print or microform record for the same title already exists in the CONSER file, you should create/authenticate an eSerial record for the electronic version and link it to any related records in other formats.
Question 3: What do I do if my library doesn’t have the language expertise to do authority work?
Answer: You have two options:
- 1. Catalog as a minimal-level record (ELvl 7) and indicate in the spreadsheet ELVL7 column that the title needs authority work (a simple x in the spreadsheet cell is sufficient. You only need to mark any titles requiring authority work). Authority work for these titles will be done after the project, or
- 2.Contact the project coordinator (Steve Shadle) to have the title reassigned.
Question 4: Am I required to update my OCLC holdings for any titles that we catalog as part of this project?
Answer: You are not required to set your holdings in OCLC for any titles cataloged as part of this project. If a cataloger is doing original input, they will have to issue the Update command in order to submit an original record to OCLC, but they are not required to keep their holdings attached to this title. Some libraries rely on OCLC's eSerials Holdings service to set holdings. Other libraries do or don't set OCLC holdings for open-access eSerials. There is no standard practice for the purpose of this project. Instead it is up to the individual library to determine what holdings practice works best for them.
Question 5: There are a lot of duplicate records for some of these titles. Should I report them for deletion?
Answer: Duplicates frequently appear due to machine-loads of vendor records from individual libraries. Please treat these as you would any
other duplicate record (i.e., retain one English-language record for authentication and report the others for deletion).
Question 6: How do I report the titles that my institution has authenticated?
Answer: Record the OCLC record numbers and LCCN in the spreadsheet. In the rare case you are unable to do authority work, put an x in the ELVL7 column to indicate the record is a minimal-level record requiring authority work. The information in the other columns was included only for your information. You do not need to correct titles, ISSNs, URLs or any other information entered in these columns.
Question 7: What do I need to report?
Answer: When reporting your cataloging on the master spreadsheet, you need to enter information only in columns B, C, and possibly D:
B: the OCLC record number of the record you have authenticated
C: the LCCN of the record you have authenticated
D: in the rare case you are unable to do authority work, put an x in this field to indicate the record is a minimal-level record requiring authority work
The information in the other columns was included only for your
information before you catalog these titles.You do not need to correct
titles, ISSNs, URLs or any other information entered in these columns.
Question 8: Title changes: how do I report multiple records for a single entry on the spreadsheet?
Answer: Please do not add any rows to the spreadsheet to report multiple authenticated records related to a single entry in the spreadsheet. If you have discovered title changes that required the authentication of more than one CONSER record corresponding to a single entry in the spreadsheet, enter all the record numbers in the same cell.
Question 9: What do I do if the URL on the spreadsheet doesn’t work?
Answer: There are several strategies depending on the nature of the failure:
- If you get a security message, try using a different browser
- If URL appears to no longer be valid, try to find the current website (eg, google search, start from a higher domain, use URLs in the OCLC record)
- Note the website is down and try again later
On the spreadsheet, indicate the failure with a short note in the OCN column (e.g. time out 8/19/24; security warning 5/5/25, domain no longer exists, 6/2/25)
Because a title could be down for an extended period (especially in transition from one domain to another), please make one final check of any non-working URLs before the end of next year’s project. I check these titles one final time and typically find around a dozen titles that are working even though the library reports the title is not available
Question 10:Am I required to assign a Library of Congress classification number?
As with any other CONSER cataloging, an LC class number (MARC 050) is encouraged, but not required. Be aware that these records are syndicated to hundreds (if not thousands) of library knowledgebases and many of those libraries use LC classification to support “browse by subject” functionality. A main entry cutter is not necessary but please record a complete LC classification (including the number) and not just letters (eg, RL1 not RL). Often, letters (without numbers) will not be sufficient for a system to assign a title to the correct topical group.
