Penn State University Libraries - 260 -- Publication, Distribution, Etc. (Imprint)

Cataloging rules for the imprint have changed considerably over time; therefore, descriptions of the imprint may vary greatly in copy. In general, if the major elements of the imprint match, accept copy.

Accept copy when a publisher out of multiple publishers is missing as long as the publisher given on copy matches one of the publishers on the item (chiefly CIP).

If a foreign publisher only is present in the 260 but a U.S. publisher is also present on the item, add the U.S. publisher to the 260. Add missing elements as necessary based upon Bibliographic Processing Cataloging Rules for 260.

Accept/do not correct 260|a when copy lacks a second |a for a place of publication and the place of publication on copy matches a place of publication on the item (chiefly in CIP records).

LC CIP Records

LC CIP records often contain incomplete or erroneous information which must be corrected.

Accept 260 from CIP records unless to do so would make copy a questionable match.

Accept 260 |a and |b as found on copy unless obviously incorrect.

Form of 260 |a or |b: Accept/do not correct 260 when the place or publisher matches the item but the form of name differs in fullness.

Verify 260|c and check it against Date1 in the Fixed Fields area. CIP records are often off by a year. Also make sure to update the date in the call number for Penn State holdings when necessary. Do not correct the 050/090 date.

Distributor

Accept if found on copy and matches, but do not add a distributor statement if missing from copy.

Publication Date or Copyright Date Later than Calendar Date

At the end of the calendar year, items often appear with a publication date or copyright date of the following year. Accept the date as found on the item. Do not bracket or infer these dates.

Publication Date and Copyright Date both Present in 260|c

Accept copy as found, but verify that information in the Fixed Fields area for Dat_Tp, Date1 and Date2 is correct.

260|g Date of Manufacture

Accept but do not input.

Sets with Varying Imprint Info for Subsequent Volumes

When creating the initial set record, give the publication information from the earliest available volume in field 260; use blank indicator values.

260    ##    Altoona, PA :|bPenn State Altoona,|c1999-

When adding volumes, check whether the publication information has changed on later volumes. If it has:

• Create a second 260 field
• Use first indicator value 3 (Current/Latest publisher)
• Include the place and name of the new publisher in subfields |a and |b
• Do not include subfield |c (Date of publication); only the first 260 field should include the publication date
• Add subfield |3 with the number of the volume(s) to which the information applies
• Add a subfield |3 to the first 260 field, with the number of the volume(s) to which that information applies

  260    ##    |3vol. 1-5|aAltoona, PA :|bPenn State Altoona,|c1999-

  260    3#    |3vol. 6-|aUniversity Park, PA :|bPennsylvania State University

If there is a further change:

• Leave the first 260 unchanged
• Change the indicator of the second 260 to 2 (Intervening publisher) and close the span of volumes in subfield |3
• Add a third 260 field with first indicator value 3 and follow the same procedure as above.

  260    ##    |3vol. 1-5|aAltoona, PA :|bPenn State Altoona,|c1999-

  260    2#    |3vol. 6-10|aUniversity Park, PA :|bPennsylvania State University

  260    3#    |3vol. 11-|aFreeport, Bahamas :|bCorporate Shark, Ltd.

If the volumes are not numbered, use dates of publication in subfield |3.