CONSER Best Practice for Commercially Produced Reproductions (Microforms, CD-ROMs, etc.)

Linking fields

Detailed information about the components of a linking entry field in CONSER records is found in the CONSER Cataloging Manual (CCM) 14.1.4.

In general, the components of a link between records for commercially produced reproductions and original publications (in the most ordinary case, when both resources do not have the same physical format) would be:

In CONSER, recording the link to the print original is optional for all microfilm reproduction records. It is suggested that the link be recorded regardless of generation. See CCM 32.3.3. Harvard CONSER catalogers may follow the HL overall best practice and record such relationships.

"Brother-sister" relationships are not recorded (e.g., links from microfilm and microfiche reproductions of the same title are made to the print original, but not to each other). See CCM 14.5.4.

The former practice of using 776 field subfield |c Original in records for microfilm reproductions has been discontinued under RDA. Subfield |c Original was used in place of subfields |a, |s, and |t for the catalog entry of the resource reproduced. Although this method is still described in the version of CCM Module 32 that is in Cataloger's Desktop as of 6/24/19, it is being discontinued. See the CONSER Program's web page for an early draft of the revised CCM 32.3, and the MARC documentation about subfield |c: 76x - 78x Linking Entry Fields.

Subfield |i

CONSER preference seems generally to use the natural language labels "Print version," "Online version," "CD-ROM version," "Microfilm version," etc., in such linking fields, when appropriate. The reason for this may be that these are considered easier for library users to understand. However, there are examples throughout CONSER documentation that instead use relationship designators. For instance, the examples in the draft newly revised CCM 32.3 show a preference for "Microfilm version," but CCM 32.3.3 states that either "Reproduction of (manifestation)" or "Print version" can be used to link from microform reproductions to print originals.

Relationships between originals published on tangible media and remote electronic reproductions have necessitated the development of special conventions. A major reason for this is that retrospective digitization of past issues is generally anticipated, even if it hasn't already occurred.

In cases in which an earlier/later relationship is combined into a 776 link between print and electronic versions (i.e., when a print resources ceases, but continues online), CONSER uses specific wording in subfield |i to reflect this (see CCM 14.5.4):

776 08 |i Continued online:

Chronological or numeric designations may be combined with labels in subfield |i when the relationship described only applies to specific parts or a specific span of the other manifestation. (CONSER opted to use subfield |i instead of the normal subfield |g in this case to create clearer displays for users.)

For example:

776 08 |i Print version, 1899-2016:

530 field: Additional physical form available note

CONSER catalogers generally only use a 530 note when there is no English-language-of-cataloging OCLC record to which to link and there is no ISSN. In other words, a 776 consisting only of the authorized access point plus the ISSN is preferred rather than a 530 note. Linking fields are preferred whenever possible because of the possible functionality of ISSNs in subfield |x, etc. Catalogers use text in subfield |i instead of a 530 note to record any complex details about a particular relationship. To avoid redundancy, generally 530 fields are not used when linking fields are employed to express the same relationship.