This book, first published in 1989, is a comprehensive look at PaULS, the Pennsylvania Union List of Serials. The editors, both of whom have extensive experience with online union listing, have collected the previously published articles recording the development and implementation of PaULS; compiled new articles representing updated perspectives; provided the PaULS procedure manual; and included an annotated bibliography of literature about online union listing. Contributors to this fascinating volume describe extensive union listing activities of West Virginia University, a special library, Calgon Corporation, and a regional consortia, the Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges.

Retrospective Conversion is an essential guide for library catalogers and technical services managers in the process of converting manual catalog records to machine readable form. It clearly illustrates the advantages and disadvantages of the three conversion methods--converting in-house, contracting to a vendor, and a combination of the two--and covers the areas of cost, staff, time, and record quality for each. Catalogers will learn how to make a bigger investment in advance planning to achieve better end results. Helpful chapters emphasize the need for planning, quality control, and authority control in the creation of a complete catalog in a machine readable form. Also included are case studies that illustrate specific methods in action and provide a wealth of general, usable information. This unique reference covers a variety of valuable topics for catalogers involved in converting manual catalog records. It includes an in-depth bibliography and review of the retrospective conversion literature, including over 200 items addressing general considerations, special formats, and international issues. Specific examples of retrospective conversion are analyzed including projects in medium and large size institutions, non-serials and serials cataloging, music scores, and the Library of Congress’s conversion of the PREMARC file. Specific techniques are explained such as the development of a PC workstation interface to facilitate the conversion process, the use of sampling techniques in project cost analysis, how to determine what quality standards are needed and at what cost, and authority control in both manual and online catalogs.

The first comprehensive examination of bibliographic databases on a worldwide scale, this important new volume focuses on the development and future of, as well as the transitions within large scale national and international bibliographic databases. Professionals discuss the linking of national bibliographic databases. On a broader scale, several chapters examine different types of bibliographic databases outside of North America in their various stages of development. Experts address some of the important issues connecting the components of international bibliographic databases, including communication protocols between various bibliographic databases and authority control.

This book, first published in 1986, contains the invaluable and enlightening perspectives of an international roster of experts on the state-of-the-art of serials librarianship and the indications for the future of the profession.