We use Sirsi's serials module here at the Law Library.  We also have a
subscription to JAMA.  I just checked to see how our pattern was set up and
discovered:
the pattern is predicted as a weekly with no exceptions or omissions
a note in the record states "published every week except for 4 combined
issues in months with 5 Wednesdays"

Presumably the person creating predictions would see the note, understand
the warning and generate only a few predictions at a time.  The person
receiving the issues would then see that some modification at time of check
in would be needed for those last issues of the month that are combined
five-Wednesday-months.

In my opinion there's a world or hurt following assumptions like that.  So
with a mind for scientific enquiry and armed with a calendar, I omitted the
fifth week for January, May, July and October.  I was momentarily taken
aback by the fact that there are six weeks per month in Sirsi's serial
module.  Undeterred I saved my changes and previewed a years worth of
predictions.

Slick; it worked beautifully!  Now the only extra work this title will
require is modification for the double dates of those last issues of the
month in five Wednesday months.  For fun I previewed two years worth of
predictions and discovered that once a year the five Wednesday months will
need to be re-omitted.  Even so, putting the effort forward up-front is
better than dumping the entire responsibility and mess onto the receivers.

I hope this information helps those who are looking at new systems.  In my
opinion having vendors demo their ILS software on-site and being prepared
with some real life examples and problems along with discussions with other
institutions that use the ILS software is very beneficial.

I am also glad that I took the time to investigate this matter:  now our
pattern for JAMA is very much improved.  Thank you.

Rachel Hollis, serials librarian/cataloger
Robert Crown Library
Stanford Law School
559 Nathan Abbott Way
Stanford, CA 94305-8612
vox: 650-725-4830, fax: 650-723-8657
http://www.law.stanford.edu/library/techweb/
<rahollis@Stanford.EDU>