--- Begin Forwarded Message --- Date: Mon, 5 Apr 1999 08:06:53 -0400 From: "Caplan,Ellen" <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Form Subdivision Coding Sender: "Caplan,Ellen" <[log in to unmask]> The following may be of interest to those of you who catalog on OCLC. =================== New coding for form subdivisions now in effect On February 17, 1999, Library of Congress started to use the new coding for form subdivisions ($v) in subject headings. It is OCLC's policy that any current cataloging entered in WorldCat (the OCLC Online Union Catalog) reflect LC practice as to tagging and coding. In other words, libraries entering new records that have form subdivisions should be using the new coding. If local systems can not handle the new $v, users should enter the information with the correct coding, add the record to WorldCat by doing the update command, and then edit the record for local practices. Libraries entering records for retrospective conversion projects may continue to use the old coding if it is not clear that the subdivision represents a form or a topic. OCLC does not require that users change the older $x coding to $v when doing copy cataloging. Each library will need to decide at what rate they will adapt their existing catalogs. OCLC is investigating doing a conversion of older WorldCat records to the new coding practice; however, no schedule has been set for this project. Guidelines in the online version of "Bibliographic Formats and Standards" will be updated to reflect this change. Specifically, restrictions in the 600, 610, 611, 630, 650 and 651 fields saying not to use the $v are no longer applicable. Corrections to the printed version will follow as part of the regular update cycle. --Linda Gabel Cataloging Services Section, OCLC Phone: (800)848-5878, ext. 6374 Fax: (614)718-7196 Internet: [log in to unmask] --- End Forwarded Message ---