Union list development: control of the serial literature

Area of Science:

• Library and Information Science
• Biomedical Informatics
• Serials Management

Background:

• Development of a national union list for biomedical serial holdings is underway.
• Integration with the National Serials Data Program (NSDP) is a key objective.
• The initiative is supported by the three National Libraries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the development of a national biomedical serials finding tool.
• To detail the integration of this tool into the National Serials Data Program.
• To discuss the foundational elements and relationships of this program.

Main Methods:

• Selection of the Union Catalog of Medical Periodicals (UCMP) as the foundational database.
• Evaluation of various methods for recording serial holdings.
• Assessment of the NSDP's status and its connection to the UCMP file.
• Analysis of the Standard Serial Number (SSN) and its relation to other serial title coding schemes.

Main Results:

• The UCMP is chosen as the basis for the biomedical union list.
• Different approaches to holdings recording are being considered.
• The NSDP's development and its relationship with UCMP are progressing.
• The SSN's role and its compatibility with existing systems are under review.

Conclusions:

• The establishment of a unified biomedical serials resource is advancing.
• Integration efforts aim to enhance access and management of serials.
• Standardization through SSN is crucial for interoperability.