ADMINISTRATIVE NOTES Newsletter of the Federal Depository Library Program ------------------------------------------------------------------------ October 15, 1999 GP 3.16/3-2:20/15 (Vol. 20, no. 15) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ AVAILABILITY RECORDS FOR SERIALS DISCONTINUED The Library Programs Service (LPS) advises tape vendors and the many libraries that load GPO produced records in their Online Public Access Catalogs (OPACs) that effective October 1, 1999, the Cataloging Branch, Library Programs Service, will cease producing availability records. As of October, GPO will no longer produce records that represent specific issues of annual or semi-annual publications or multi-part works. Instead, GPO maintains, updates, and creates, as appropriate, records that represent serials irrespective of the frequency of issue. This change should eliminate confusion caused by the production of piece level records for serials issued semi-annually and less frequently but not for those issued three or more times per year. Application of a uniform standard for bibliographic control of all serials will be most noticeable in the year 2001, when all serials will be represented within the Serials Supplement, the successor to the Periodicals Supplement. The last issue of the Periodicals Supplement, to be published in the year 2000, will include only titles issued three or more times per year. A uniform practice for bibliographic control of serials has been established in consultation with the Depository Library Council to the Public Printer, the Cataloging Distribution Service of the Library of Congress, the Cataloging Committee of the Government Documents Round Table, American Library Association, and commercial tape vendors. Questions may be directed to Ms. Betty Jones, Chief, Cataloging Section 2, on (202) 512-1516, extension 30589; by fax on (202) 512-1432; or by e-mail .