United States National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health

FAQ
DOCLINE -- Effects of Title Changes

Question: What happens to my holdings when a title changes?
Answer:

Each evening a program runs to identify title changes for that day and will create new DOCLINE holdings records for those titles. New holdings are created for all libraries that currently receive the old title and have not yet recorded holdings data for the new title. For details, see below.

Libraries need to close their holdings for the old titles and review their holdings for the new titles. To view a list of title changes, libraries should generate the NLM Serial Title Changes Report.

Note: This program only converts holdings within DOCLINE for straightforward title changes where one title changes to another title. DOCLINE does not create new holdings records for more complicated changes such as merged or split titles. For these title changes, libraries would need to create holdings records on the new title(s) and also close the old title(s), if applicable.
The title change program matches holdings based upon:
  • Beginning publication date,
  • Ending publication date, and
  • Holdings within DOCLINE Serial Holdings.
If publication dates contain "u" for unknown and the library reports:
  • Limited retention holdings - a holdings record identical to that reported on the previous title will be created for the new title.
  • Permanently retained holdings - a holdings record without volume or year information, also known as "Encoding Level 2" record, will be created for the new title.

    (Note: Libraries will need to add volumes and/or years to the new holdings record. See Example 2 below).
Examples of current holdings and how holdings for the new title will be created.

Example 1:
  • Title A was published from 1988 to 1998 and changed to Title B.
  • Title B began publication in 1998 and is currently being published.
If Current Title A Holdings are: Then the New Title B Holdings will be:
v.1-, 1988- 1998-
v.1-5, 1988-1992  
1993- 1998-
Latest 6 Months Latest 6 Months
Latest 2 Editions Latest 2 Editions
Latest 5 Years Latest 5 Years


Example 2:
  • Title C was published from 1912 to 199u and changed to Title D. Note: u represents "unknown".
  • Title D began publication in 199u and is currently being published.
If Current Title C Holdings are: Then the New Title D Holdings will be:
v.1-, 1912- Level 2 holdings created; acquisition status will be Currently Receiving, but no holding will be listed.
v.1-5, 1912-1916  
1993- Level 2 holdings created; acquisition status will be Currently Receiving, but no holding will be listed.
Latest 6 Months

Latest 6 Months

Latest 2 Editions

Latest 2 Editions

Latest 5 Years

Latest 5 Years
Related Questions:
How do I add a holdings record for my library?
How do I delete a holdings record for my library?
How do I update a holdings record for my library?

Return to the list of DOCLINE FAQs | Return to the list of NLM FAQs
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/services/doc_titlechange.html

Last reviewed: 17 September 2008
Last updated: 17 September 2008
First published: 11 January 2002
Metadata| Permanence level: Permanence Not Guaranteed