1. 1 CONSER’S Publication Pattern Initiative: why is it important and what’s in it for you?

2. 2 Today’s presentation Background on the CONSER initiative What is the problem and what is CONSER doing about it? What CONSER has achieved to date and still hopes to accomplish A brief review of MARC 21 holdings How patterns are added to CONSER records New initiatives Experience at my institution What’s in it for you and your library

3. 3 The Challenge The MARC 21 Holdings Format was created in the 1980s as a means to communicate holdings data. It is now for the first time being widely used by integrated library systems (ILSs) Part of the holdings format is the inclusion of fields that include publication patterns that allow the ILS to predict the future issues of a serial This is a time-saver for check-in, but creation of the patterns is often time-consuming

4. 4 The Challenge However, most ILSs have not fully implemented the format Each ILS handles predictive pattern data differently forcing time-consuming and costly pattern creation in many libraries Pattern data can be shared by ILS customers but not with users of other ILSs And sharing an initial load does not help with ongoing maintenance If a library decides to migrate to a new ILS down the road, the check-in data will have to be recreated

5. 5 The Solution A pattern should be created once and shared with all others who own the serial (like bib records!) If each ILS would fully implement the MARC 21 Holdings Format, check-in data could be shared and migrated, just as we now do with bibliographic records

6. 6 CONSER’s Efforts Patterns and dates/numbers associated with the beginning pattern are being added to CONSER records on OCLC in field 891 (distributed to RLIN in fields 853/863) CONSER is sharing this data to: share the intellectual effort of pattern creation and to promote conformance with the standard

7. 7 CONSER Publication Pattern Initiative Began in 1999 to experiment with the addition of patterns to CONSER records on OCLC Experiment was determined a success in 2001 and declared an ongoing part of CONSER This has been the first group to really test the holdings format Task force members have contributed proposals to MARBI to enhance and improve the standard

8. 8 CONSER Initiative Key goal involves working with ILS vendors to promote improvements Pattern participants have partnered with different ILSs to propose changes and promote cooperation CONSER has also promoted documentation and training to spread awareness and increase skills Documentation on the CONSER Pub Pattern Web site http://www.loc.gov/acq/conser/patthold.html SCCTP Holdings Workshop

9. 9 Accomplishments CONSER/OCLC database currently has over 50,000 patterns Many of these were created by Harvard and contain captions but not always pattern data Participants have input over 10,000 patterns Currently 19 participating institutions New participants continue to join Mentoring program developed for new institutions

10. 10 Accomplishments ILSs have responded VTLS has always been able to load patterns III has developed a pattern loader Endeavor has promised full compliance in the future Most major vendors send representatives to CONSER task force meetings at ALA But it’s slow going nonetheless!

11. 11 Accomplishments Other accomplishments include Improvements to the MARC 21 Holdings format Free availability of documentation Training opportunities Outreach via discussions at ALA and NASIG and meetings such as this Raising awareness that non-compliance with standards is unacceptable!

12. 12 A brief overview of the holdings format MFHD uses paired fields 853 and 863 853 carries the captions and patterns 863 carries the enumeration and chronology of the holdings that relate to that pattern Captions and patterns Caption: the word, phrase, or abbreviation that the publisher uses to indicate the issues or parts of a serials or multipart (e.g., volume, issue, number, jahrgang) Pattern: includes the frequency, regularity, and number of issues or parts; this is the part that makes prediction work

13. 13 Example of 853 fields Monthly serial des. by vol., no. year, and month 853 $a v. $b no. $u 12 $v r $i (year) $j (month) $w m $x 01 $a and $b = 1 st and 2 nd levels of enumeration $u = numbers per volume (used to determine when 1 st level will increase) $v = numbering repeats with each volume (1-12) $i and $j = 1 st and 2 nd levels of chronology $w = monthly frequency $x = calendar changes with the first month (January)

14. 14 Example of 863 field Serial begins with vol. 1, no. 1 in January 2002 863 $a 1 $b 1$i 01 $j 2002 $a = 1 st level of enumeration $b = 2 nd level of enumeration $i = 1 st level of chronology $j = 2 nd level of chronology

15. 15 Pattern for this serial in a CONSER record on OCLC 853 and 863 fields are imbedded in 891 fields in $9 Indicators apply to 853 and 863 $8 links the 853 and 863 fields 891 20 $9 853 $8 1 $a v. $b no. $u 12 $v r $i (year) $j (month) $w m $x 01 891 41 $ 863 $8 1.1 $a 1 $b 1$i 01 $j 2002

16. 16 Pattern for this serial as it appears in RLIN Records are exported using MARC fields and 852 field with “universal pattern” 852 Universal pattern 853 20 $8 1 $a v. $b no. $u 12 $v r $i (year) $j (month) $w m $x 01 863 41 $8 1.1 $a 1 $b 1$i 01 $j 2002

17. 17 Relation to Holdings These are the fields used locally to create detailed holdings statements The primary difference is in field 863 In CONSER, only issues noted are first and last to which pattern apply Locally, more complete holdings statement is given, including gaps, non-published issues, etc.

18. 18 More on MFHD Fields 854/864 are used for supplements Fields 855/865 are used for indexes Fields 866/867/868 are used for textual data Usually used for back holdings Not used for predictive check-in For more information and examples, see: http://www.loc.gov/acq/conser/patthold.html

19. 19 How are Patterns Added to CONSER Records? Participants use a macro designed by Robert Bremer (OCLC) on Passport and CatME The macro makes use of data in the bibliographic record to create a pattern in seconds For simple patterns, the macro works great For more complex patterns, additional data is added or corrected Works well for new patterns, but not subsequent patterns

20. 20 New Initiatives

21. 21 Universal Holdings Record Two CONSER task groups: Diane Hillmann (Cornell) is heading a CONSER task group on the definition and uses of a universal holdings record Linda Miller (LC) is chairing a group looking at the long-term storage of pattern data and the technical aspects of a universal holdings record

22. 22 Universal Holdings Record: what is it? What are its uses? The complete record of what has been published, not what is held by any one institution Could exist on OCLC (or RLIN?) in association with the bibliographic record Potential uses: Building local holdings records Collections development, digital archiving, preservation, etc. Supporting union listing Sharing creation of holdings data rather than each institution doing it locally

23. 23 Patterns and Electronic Serials? Yumin Jiang is chairing CONSER Task Force Charge is to explore current use of holdings data, explore potential uses for pattern data and role of ILSs, and consider needs for the future Recently issued and completed a survey

24. 24 Patterns and Electronic Serials Most responses say that this level of detail is not needed for electronic serials Most libraries currently use summary holdings only However, consider the following: Uses of pattern data for potential self-checkin of e-journals Uses for archiving and document delivery Need for more detailed data if print is discontinued Use for claiming broken links or undelivered issues

25. 25 Other activities Working with subscription agents to determine whether data from them could be used to create patterns OCLC is exploring a pattern subscription and notification service

26. 26 How does this affect me/my library? Your library may be able to use the patterns in CONSER records Are you using MARC holdings? Does your ILS have the capability to download this data? (Talk to your vendor!) Look at the Publication Patterns Workflow FAQ document at http://lcweb.loc.gov/acq/conser/patthold.h tml

27. 27 How does this affect me/my library? If you are using MFHD, you will have new capabilities when ILSs implement new coding that has been approved by MARBI If you are using MFHD, CONSER’s documentation and training will be useful to you in better understanding the standard you are using

28. 28 How might this affect me/my library in the future? Hopefully your ILS will have fully implemented MFHD You will then have the capability of downloading patterns from CONSER records This will save time from in-house pattern creation Pattern data related to electronic serials could enable automatic check-in by the journals themselves!

29. 29 How will this affect me/my library in the future? When your library decides it is time to go to a new ILS, you won’t have to recreate all of your check-in data!

30. 30 My institution’s experience

31. 31 Can I participate? Yes! Requirements are: Ability to work directly on OCLC Ability to contribute a minimum of 75 new or revised patterns a year CONSER is recruiting more libraries to contribute pattern data as CONSER Enhance libraries CONSER Enhance libraries receive credits from OCLC and are mentored by an existing participant Interested? Contact Les Hawkins (lhaw@loc.gov)lhaw@loc.gov

32. 32 Where Can I Learn More? CONSER Publication Pattern Web page: http://www.loc.gov/acq/conser/patthold.html Or contact: Carlen Ruschoff, Chair, CONSER Publication Pattern Task Force (ruschoff@deans.umd.edu)ruschoff@deans.umd.edu Les Hawkins, CONSER Coordinator (lhaw@loc.gov)