3 messages

1)----------------------
From:         Wayne Jones <waynej@MIT.EDU>
Subject:      Re: TITLE for Tunels and Tunneling? (Stephen J. Katz)

serialists,

I, too, like it when serials don't change their titles -- well, I like it
when *some* change, otherwise I might be out of a job. However, I think that
criticizing publishers because they change the titles of their serials might
tend to make them care less rather than more about whether they conform to
practices which make life easier for serialists. I find that there's a
snarky, self-satisfied tone about this letter, which presumes that the
various rules and access mechanisms which serialists have set up for serials
are just fine (nothing wrong here, mister), and that the problem *must* be
with the publisher.

The publisher could perhaps quite justifiably ask why we have rules that
insist on making so many records.

w

Wayne Jones, Serials Cataloging, MIT Libraries, 14E-210A, (617) 253-4637,
waynej@mit.edu

2)------------------------
Date:         Fri, 27 Feb 1998 12:07:59 -0800
From:         Carol Morse <MorsCa@WWC.EDU>
Subject:      Re: TITLE for Tunels and Tunneling? (Stephen J. Katz)

Hurrah for Stephen Katz.  I have written a few such letters, and have
also complained by email when the publisher forgets or hides the vol. and issue nos.

*******************************************************************************
Carol Morse                                    Phone: 509:527-2684
Serials Librarian                              Fax::  509) 527-2001
Walla Walla College Library            Email:  morsca@wwc.edu
204 S. College Ave.
College Place, WA  99324

Grant us strength for the journey and wisdom to know the way.
********************************************************************************

3)----------------------
Date:         Fri, 27 Feb 1998 16:33:59 -0500
From:         "Susan E. Sturgeon" <ssturgeo@SALEM.MASS.EDU>
Subject:      Re: TITLE for Tunels and Tunneling? (Stephen J. Katz)

And not only that, but you have shown that slightly obsessive people can
still have a sense of humor!

SUSAN STURGEON
SERIALS DEPARTMENT
SALEM STATE COLLEGE LIBRARY
352 LAFAYETTE ST.
SALEM MA 01970
NEW E-mail address:susan.sturgeon@salem.mass.edu

On Fri, 27 Feb 1998, Stephen Clark wrote:

> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Fri, 27 Feb 1998 10:33:08 -0700
> From: KATZ STEPHEN J <skatz@SLATE.MINES.EDU>
> Subject: TITLE?
>
> Editor's note:  This is a message from Stephen Katz addressed to the
> publisher of TUNNELS AND TUNNELING.  I am putting it out on the list since
> it deals with that perennial issue of title changes.
>
>
>  I am presently a bit puzzled about the title of your journal.
>
> As I am the librarian who deals with both the acquisition and cataloging
> of serials, I could use a little help. In March of 1997 Tunnels and
> tunnelling became Tunnels and tunnelling international. OK, fine. I was
> the one who recataloged this title for the international online cataloging
> database OCLC.
>
> Now with the Feb. 1998 issue (v.30:no.2), Tunnels and tunnelling
> international is nowhere to be found on the cover of your fine journal.
> All that remains on the cover is T&T international. For catalogers, this
> means you have changed the title to T&T international. Is this
> intentional, or just a different cover design for this issue? Will Tunnels
> and tunnelling international appear on the cover of future issues? You
> still have Tunnels and tunnelling international on the spine and as a
> running title on SOME pages of the Feb. 1998 issue. If the title Tunnels
> and tunnelling returns next month on the cover after a month's absence
> everything will more or less remain the same.
>
> I hope I can explain how such intentional or unintentional changes not
> only make life more difficult for serials librarians but also make your
> journal harder to find and access by library patrons. Each title change
> involves creating a new record on the aforementioned OCLC cataloging
> database. After individual modification, this is the record that will
> appear in a library's public access catalog. Your February cover will
> force librarians who might not be sure of your intentions to
> hold the issue from the shelves until they are sure exactly what the title
> might be. And when the title does change, it might involve a physical move
> of the new issues to a different location for shelving for those libraries
> (ours included) who shelve journals by title. And when the title change is
> made in the middle of the year it creates difficulties for those who must
> collect and bind the journals. What title to put on the bound volume for
> 1998, Tunnels and tunnelling international or T&T international?
>
> So, I will hold on to the Feb. 1998 issue of your journal and not send it
> to the Uncover Office in Denver where article titles and authors are
> entered in their database to be accessed by potential customers who might
> want to order copies of articles and I will not have it shelved with our
> other periodicals where students and faculty might be able to peruse it,
> until I can be certain of its title.
>
> Please do not think too harshly of this little note. I send this with the
> risk of being forever labeled a malcontent and a whiner by Miller
> Freeman.I don't do this every time a serial changes or possibly changes
> title. If I did, I would never be able to exit my e-mail. I only happen
> to be slightly obsessive by nature. Its just that this time I thought it
> might be worthwhile to shed some light on the results of frequent title
> changes.
>
> Oh, and one more thing. If you have indeed changed the title to T&T
> international, it would be incumbent upon you to notify the nearest ISDS
> (International Serials Data Systems) center to apply for a new ISSN. The
> last thing you would want would be to have an outdated ISSN assigned to
> your journal. Right?
>
> Thank you for your kind consideration.
>
> Stephen J. Katz
> Serials Librarian
> Colorado School of Mines
> Arthur Lakes Library
> 1400 Illinois St.
> Golden, Colorado 80401-0029
>
> (303) 279-3748
> (303) 279-3199 (FAX)
>
> skatz@mines.edu
>