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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600, 610, 611, 630, 650 and 651 fields saying not to use the $v are no
longer applicable.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]
 
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