Skip to main content
Main Content

Enumeration & Chronology

The serial pattern is important for generating predictions and constructing call numbers for serial issues checked in.

Define the serial pattern in the Patterns tab of your control record.  Patterns consist of the following pieces:

  • Enumeration Pattern
  • Chronology Pattern
  • Publication Pattern

Enumeration pattern

For serial publications that rely on enumeration, i.e., academic journals, medical journals, or comic books, define those levels in the enumeration pattern.

Do not record enumeration for consumer magazines, newspapers, or trade journals.

  1. Use the gadget(s) to choose one or more levels of enumeration.
  2. If there is more than one level of enumeration, enter the number of issues that comprise that level in the Limit field.

enumeration pattern limit field

Check the Continuous box if issue numbers in the second level of enumeration do not restart at 1 when the first level of enumeration increments.

Chronology pattern

Choose a Chronology type to define the chronology pattern.

chronology type

Call numbers must be entered in an exact format based on the selected Chronology type.

Chronology Type Definitions   Example
BIMONTH JAN/FEB, MAR/APR, MAY/JUN, JUL/AUG, SEP/OCT, NOV/DEC   MAR/APR 2021
BIMONTH2 DEC/JAN, FEB/MAR, APR/MAY, JUN/JUL, AUG/SEP, OCT/NOV   APR/MAY 2021
DATE MMM DD, YYYY   APR 14, 2020
MONTH JAN, FEB, MAR, APR, MAY, JUN, JUL, AUG, SEP, OCT, NOV, DEC   APR 2020
NUMERATION This publication uses enumeration labels only.   n/a
SEASON

WIN, SPR, SUM, FALL

(Note WIN begins the cycle)

  WIN 2015
SEASON2

SPR, SUM, FALL, WIN

(Note SPR begins the cycle)

  FALL 2020
SEASON3

JAN/MAR, APR/JUN, JUL/SEP, OCT/DEC

(This is a three month season combination)

  APR/JUN 2020
YEAR 4-digit year only   2021
CUSTOM Enter custom names, separated by commas – up to 200 characters may be entered   FEB/MAR/APR, JUN, JUL/AUG/SEP, OCT/NOV, DEC, JAN

 

Publication pattern

Use the gadget to define the publication pattern.

 

  1. Select daily, weekly, monthly, or annually, based on the frequency of the publication.
  2. Enter other information, such as the date of the week the serial is published, to complete the publication pattern.
  3. You may use the Omit Issues Helper to omit specific issues as exceptions to the pattern.
  1. Click OK.

Enumeration & chronology and the OPAC display tab

  1. Once you have built your pattern, click on the OPAC Display tab.
  2. Under Form of name to display, you have three options.  Select the radio button that matches the serial pattern.
  • For example, for a consumer magazine where you are recording chronology only, choose the Chronology radio button.  If you select the both radio button, the chronology will list twice in the serial call number.

chronology OPAC display tab

If your library does not generate predictions and prefers to enter enumeration and chronology information for issues on-the-fly, staff must enter a value for both enumeration and chronology, even though "Chronology" only may be selected.