The Bibliographic Description and Choice of Access Points for Serials According to AACR2

Abstract

This paper looks at the AACR 2 rules on serials. Serials have been chosen as a topic for discussion because they have presented, both in format and pattern of publication, peculiar problems for the Librarian in general and the Cataloguer in particular.
The paper examines the following areas of description - title and statment of responsibility, edition, publication, etc, physical description, series, notes, standard number and terms of availability. The problem of "unique titles" has been raised for discussion.
Finally, the paper seeks to provide an answer to questions like "when is a publication a serial and why are serials more often than not entered under titles"?