Thinking About Databases

Successive entry cataloging was developed to cope with the mounting recataloging work required by latest entry cataloging practice. Successive entry cataloging in the automated environment has now become a hindrance to the efficient processing and retrieval of serial publications. Online updating of fields in a bibliographic record to reflect title changes can be done simply and economically. A single master record (earliest or latest entry) with access points for title changes prevent holdings from being fragmented. Latest entry cataloging may be desirable since users tend to request recent issues. It is desirable also for serials check-in.