Library Policy #22: Serials Coding Policy

This policy establishes the guidelines and process for coding serial titles received by the College of Charleston Libraries with library-established subject/fund codes. The Libraries use the subject/fund code to develop for collection analysis and management. Although the subject-fund codes often relate to a particular academic department, the designation does not meant that a particular academic department acting alone may cancel a serial and substitute another of equal value. The serials addition/cancellation policy is described in Policy #4.

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Currently the Libraries code serial titles in one of the following three subject/fund code categories as appropriate.

2.1 Department Codes

Currently the Libraries code serial titles based on the academic department which originally ordered the title since the department normally corresponds to the subject area. In addition to the eighteen academic department fund codes, the Marine Resources Library (MRL) and Ethnic Studies (ETS) are considered the equivalent of academic departments.

2.2 Special Codes

In addition to the serials which support the specific subject areas related to curriculum, it is the policy of the Libraries to maintain library professional serials (coded LIB), serials which by their nature are reference sources (i.e., annuals; indexes, abstracts and recurrent bibliographies; newspapers; yearbooks;etc.) coded (REF) and special serial publications dealing with the College of Charleston, the Lowcountry, and South Carolina coded (SPC). Note: Some specialized indexes, abstracts, bibliographies, and handbooks which have been requested by academic departments are located in Reference even though they are coded with departmental codes.

2.3 General Interest Codes

The Libraries also maintain serials of general interest and serials of a multi-disciplinary nature which are coded one of the following: General Humanities (GHU), General Science (GSC) and General Social Science (GSS).

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The libraries maintain a current file list of serials organized by subject/fund code. Upon initiation of new serial title orders, each serial is assigned a subject/fund code based on the source of the request. Following approval of the title for addition to the serials collection, the Collection Development Committee assigns the final subject/fund code based on the title's relationship to the subject/fund code categories listed in section 2.0.

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The Collection Development Department maintains the subject/fund code list. The list contains current price data and is sorted by subject fund codes.

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Every two years the Libraries distribute the list of serials coded for each subject/fund code to the appropriate area. The liaisons responsible of those areas will review the lists and confirm the subject/fund code assignment. Reassignment of serial titles can occur during this review.

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Drafted: Gary Ross May 6, 1986
Approved: Administrative Group May 19, 1986
Reviewed: Libraries May 29, 1986
Approved: Director of Libraries May 29, 1986

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