The NEW BUCOP: The Problems of the Documentation of Serial Publications

Abstract

The National Central Library took over the responsibility for continuing the publication of BUCOP at the beginning of 1962, and the work of compilation was added to the normal routines of the Periodicals Union Catalogue. Coupled with the decision of the council of the World list of scientific periodicals to merge with BUCOP after the publication of its fourth edition, this has had the effect of reducing from three to one the number of reporting centres for libraries disposed to co‐operate in national union schemes embracing serials. In consequence, the NCL's serial catalogue, which is in the process of revision so as to conform as a whole to the new BUCOP principles of entry and arrangement, has to serve two purposes: as a working tool in handling serial applications received in connection with the interlibrary loan system, and as the source from which BUCOP's ‘copy’ is made up. Since the NCL's own collection of serials is small at present, we are to a large extent dependent on the goodwill of the co‐operating libraries not only for information on the extent of their holdings of a particular title but also for details concerning the title itself. Naturally we have access to the large serial collections held by libraries in the vicinity of the NCL, although staff time available constitutes a limiting factor in this respect, and we are exploring ways of increasing the supply of information on new serial titles from the publishers; however, the manner in which libraries notify us of their holdings, and the form of entry they use, must inevitably remain important factors governing the work of compilation, underlining the need for a greater degree of standardization of practice in recording serial publications.

Citation

PORTER, K.I. and Oldman, C.B. (1964), "The NEW BUCOP: The Problems of the Documentation of Serial Publications", Aslib Proceedings, Vol. 16 No. 6, pp. 189-199. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb049969