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Classification Manual
(Revised July 1993)

Chapter 3

 Serials and Series

[  Classification Manual Home    |    Table of Contents  ]

Section 1. Identifying Serials and Series

Section 2. Assigning New Classes

Section 3. Book Numbers

    A. Serials

    B. Series

    Chapter 3

    Serials and Series

     This chapter addresses a wide variety of issues related to the establishment and structure of the Superintendent of Documents class number for series and serial titles.

    Users are reminded of the complex nature of government publications, which makes it impossible to formulate "hard and fast" rules to cover all possible problems as they arise. Study the publications, consider past practices and future possibilities, and establish new classes or adapt old classes as necessary.

    When classifying serials and series, refer also to pertinent sections of other chapters in this manual. The general rules apply to serials and series, and rules for special types of material may also be applicable.

    Section 1.

    Identifying Serials and Series      [     Top ]

    At first glance serials and series appear to be much the same. Both series and serials are intended to be published indefinitely. The main difference between a serial and a series is that individual issues of a series have both a common title and their own unique title proper which can only be found on one particular issue of a series. Serials may have an occasional issue which has a unique or distinctive title, but in general each issue has the same title from issue to issue.

    It may be necessary to call the issuing agency to determine if a particular publication is a serial or part of a series. Unfortunately, the agencies themselves may not know what will be published in the future. Future plans may depend on the reception of the initial publication, or on available funds.

    Base classification decisions on the information that can be discerned from the publications and that can be obtained from the issuing offices. The agency's expressed intent for the publication should also be assessed as a determining factor in establishing a class for a new series or serial.

    A. Serials      [ Top ]

    A serial is any publication which is issued on a continuing basis, has a title that does not change frequently, and has some means of uniquely identifying individual issues, such as volume number, issue number, or coverage date. The frequency may be annual, daily or three or more times a year, but some serials may be issued irregularly.

    In most cases, a serial title is represented in the Superintendent of Documents classification system by a unique class that identifies the serial title.

    Serials can often be identified by titles that include the words "annual report, " "advances in" or "accomplishments for" followed by dates or designations such as fiscal year. Look for wording that indicates that the title will be published indefinitely.

    If a publication appears to have the qualities of a serial, but the title is not clearly a serial title, review the preliminary pages and introduction to see if the publication is intended to be issued on a regular basis.

    B. Series      [ Top ]

    A series can be identified by a common title that is assigned continually to a group of publications. Each publication also has a unique title which often covers a single issue or topic.

    In the formulation of the class number, the series designation is the number assigned after the department and subordinate bureau number. The number that represents the series is followed by a colon.

    For example:

    E 1.68/2:

    DOE/RW, Radioactive waste series

    A 17.18/4:

    Quick bibliography series

    Sometimes the physical makeup of a publication indicates that the issuing agency intends to publish additional titles in a series. Perhaps the publication has a stylized heading which will appear on future publications. Usually a "one-time" publication will not have a large heading which includes the issuing office and date, with an individual title further down on the publication.

    Preservation Tech Notes, I 29.84/3-7:, is a good example of a series where typography will help the user identify the agency's intention of creating a series of publications about preservation techniques.

    1. Departmental Series vs. Bureau Series      [ Top ]

    Series or other numbering may be assigned by a subordinate bureau or by the parent department. It is difficult to determine whether a series is issued by a bureau or by the parent department until several publications have been received. A phone call to the agency may be required.

    In a departmental series, many subordinate offices may contribute to the series.

    All of these publications belong to one consecutively numbered series. They should be kept together under the class stem for the Agriculture Department as a whole (A 1.) and not scattered under several subordinate office classes.

    C. Numbering      [ Top ]

    For the purposes of Superintendent of Documents classification, numbering includes letters, symbols (such as "&"), and punctuation, as well as numbers. Classification policy is to use the agency-provided numbering as it is printed on the document. Do not adjust or modify the numbering simply for the sake of consistency of style.

    For example:

    D 101.11:11-5835-241-13 & P

    However, agency-provided numbering may be changed as necessary to eliminate conflicts or correct printing errors. Spacing should conform to the GPO spacing conventions described in the Overview.

    1. Complicated Series Numbering      [ Top ]

    Sometimes numbers and letters on a new series are complicated and undecipherable at first glance. If possible, gather a few of the publications together and compare the numbers.

    What is the same on each one, and what is different?

    Are some of the letters in the series an abbreviation of the series title?

    Is part of the number different on each publication so that it can be used as part of the class?

    Is part of the number the same on several publications but not on others?

    What do the publications have in common that the other publications do not have?

    Does the number perhaps stand for a state name or for a field of study?

    If no logical numbering system can be discerned from a group of the publications, or if only one publication is available, call the agency for an explanation of the numbering system. Take the time to decipher the number, and use it as part of the class. Prefer the numbering found on the publication to Cutter numbers when establishing classes.

    D. Publications Which Are Not Serials or Series      [ Top ]

    1. Publications of Short Duration      [ Top ]

    There are publications which appear in newspaper, newsletter, magazine or some other serial-like forms which are not serials or series. These are known as publications of short duration.

    The publications are planned by the issuing agency to be published only for a short time. They are usually associated with a national celebration, such as a centennial or bicentennial, long-running exhibition, special project, convention or conference. They cease publication as soon as the event is over.

    Separate series and serial classes should not be established for publications of short duration. Class these items in appropriate category classes.

    For example:

    I 29.2:H 23/NEWS.1

    Harpers Ferry National Historical

    Park special boundary study

    newsletter

    2. Multipart Works      [ Top ]

    Multipart works are another kind of publication that has many of the characteristics of publications in a series. These publications have a common title that is the same on all volumes and may have unique titles for each volume.

    Multipart works are not series, however, because the agency intends to issue only a limited number of volumes. There may be as few as three volumes or as many as fifty volumes, one for each state, or even more.

    For example:

    D 114.7: U.S. Army in World War II

    D 207.12: Naval Documents of the

    American Revolution

    Separate classes were established for these titles because, though not true serials, they are on-going publications, in spite of having a theoretical ending point.

    3. Monographs Which Later Become Serials      [ Top ]

    An agency may issue a monograph, i.e. a one-time publication, with no plans to continue to issue it in the future. Later, however, the agency may decide to issue the publication annually. In that case, establish a new class beginning with the second publication issued. The classification record should include a reference to the earlier class.

    When new class numbers are assigned, the Library Programs Service general policy is not to change class numbers assigned to earlier publications.

    4. Miscellaneous Monographs      [ Top ]

    There are a few other publications which look like serials or series, but should not be treated as such. These include:

    Censuses

    Dictionaries

    Encyclopedias

    Congressional hearings

    Publications which are updated from time to time in irregular, infrequent, and unplanned editions

    Publications which change their titles frequently (more than once every three issues)

    Serial-like publications which lack a distinguishing volume or coverage date

    Section 2.      [ Top ]

    Assigning New Classes

    If a title has been identified as a serial or if the first publication in a series has been identified and a class number does not already exist for it, a unique class should be established. As a general rule, serial and series titles should not be included in category classes.

    If the publication being classified is unrelated to the publications in classes already established, find the highest number at the end of the issuing agency's classes and assign the next available number.

    Occasionally classes will be so tightly grouped that there is no number available in the best spot for the new series or serial title. Additional classes may be assigned using a dash-number to solve this problem. If a dash-number can be assigned which enables similar publications to remain together in the classification system, it is advisable to use this method rather than using the next available class number.

    A. Titles Related to Existing Classes by Subject      [ Top ]

    A new title may be related to other publications by its subject matter, or be issued by the same subordinate office or agency. When assigning a new class for a series or serial title, see if the new publication is related by subject to previously established classes. For the convenience of library users, these materials should be kept together on library shelves.

    Grouping by subject can be accomplished by using dash numbers after slash numbers. This treatment avoids scattering publications on similar subjects.

    For example:

    C 55.309/2:

    Current Fisheries Statistics

    C 55.309/2-2:

    Fisheries of the United States (annual)

    C 55.309/2-3:

    Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistics Survey, Atlantic and Gulf Coasts (biennial)

    C 55.309/2-4:

    Frozen Fishery Products, Annual Summary

    The dash-number should be used only after a slash number. This means that a new series or serial is not always classified in the best possible place. Giving the new title a new slash-number may be unavoidable.

    For example:

    E 3.11: Natural gas monthly

    E 3.11/2: Natural gas liquids

    E 3.11/2-2: Natural gas (annual)

    All of the E 3.11/2 classes cover serials related to the subject of natural gas.

    B. New Classes for Existing Serials      [ Top ]

    New class numbers for previously classified serials should be established when:

    1) two or more serials merge to form a new publication

    2) the issuing agency, as reflected in the class stem, changes.

    If the title of a serial changes, the class number will remain the same unless one of the two exceptions listed above applies.

    C. Serials within Series      [ Top ]

    Certain agencies publish numbered series which include serial titles. The same series number sometimes is assigned to every issue of the serial. It is more common for each issue of the serial to carry a unique series number. When each issue has a unique number, the individual issues of a serial title are scattered throughout the series, and may be difficult for the user to find.

    Separate classes should be established for a serial title within a series if the serial issues have unique series numbers.

    Congressional reports, documents and committee prints that use the Senate numbering system are the exception to the rule.

    If possible, attach the new class to the existing numbered series class by using a dash or a slash; otherwise use the next available number. The series number will not be used after the colon of the new class designation; dates will be used instead.

    1. Cuttering      [ Top ]

    It is not always necessary to establish individual classes for each unique serial title. When a different series number is used on every issue of a serial title, a Cutter number may be used to identify the serial.

    The Foreign Labor Trends series is a good example of this practice. Each title in the series is a serial, and most titles are issued annually. There are over fifty serial titles in the series, each representing a particular country or jurisdiction.

    An individual class could be established for each serial title. However, the decision was made to use the series class stem, L 29.16: and the Cutter number for each geographic area to identify each title.

    For example:

    L 29.16:M 82/990-91 Morocco

    Consider the projected number of serial titles in a series before determining whether a unique class should be established for each title. If voluminous new classes would result, prefer a method, such as Cuttering, that would result in fewer classes.

    2. Series Numbering      [ Top ]

    When a serial belonging to a numbered series is uniquely identified by a number that remains constant within the series from issue to issue, a new class need not be established. However, the number that remains constant cannot contain a variable number such as a date.

    D. Item Number Designations for States      [ Top ]

    If separate classes are needed for serial titles that are repeated for every state in the United States, then the item number designations for states should be incorporated in the classification

    numbers. If the publication covers more than one state, use the first one named when establishing the class. When using item numbers 01-09 in the class numbers, omit the leading zeroes.

    Item Number Designations for States

    Alabama 01 Maine 19 Oregon 37

    Alaska 02 Maryland 20 Pennsylvania 38

    Arizona 03 Massachusetts 21 Rhode Island 39

    Arkansas 04 Michigan 22 South Carolina 40

    California 05 Minnesota 23 South Dakota 41

    Colorado 06 Mississippi 24 Tennessee 42

    Connecticut 07 Missouri 25 Texas 43

    Delaware 08 Montana 26 Utah 44

    Florida 09 Nebraska 27 Vermont 45

    Georgia 10 Nevada 28 Virginia 46

    Hawaii 11 New Hampshire 29 Washington 47

    Idaho 12 New Jersey 30 West Virginia 48

    Illinois 13 New Mexico 31 Wisconsin 49

    Indiana 14 New York 32 Wyoming 50

    Iowa 15 North Carolina 33 District of

    Kansas 16 North Dakota 34 Columbia 51

    Kentucky 17 Ohio 35 U.S. Summary 52

    Louisiana 18 Oklahoma 36 Outlying areas 53

    For example:

    L 2.121/1: Area wage survey, Alabama

    L 2.121/2: Area wage survey, Alaska

    L 2.121/3: Area wage survey, Arizona

    However, if the series number uniquely identifies each state, then the series number rather than the item number designation is used.

    For example:

    C 3.204/3-34:989

    County business patterns, New York, CBP-89-34

    Section 3.      [ Top ]

    Book Numbers

    A. Serials      [ Top ]

    The book number for serial titles consists of the date or volume and number.

    Consecutive numbering from year to year

    If a publication has consecutive numbering which continues from year to year, then the numbering alone is sufficient.

    For example:

    LC 1.32:159

    FLICC Newsletter, January 1992,

    no. 159

    Number 1 repeats each year

    For some serial titles, the first issue of the year always begins with number 1. Rather than add the date after the number, the date is used first to keep the year's publications together.

    For example:

    D 5.315:990/16

    Notice to Mariners, no. 16, April 17, 1990

    If the date were not used before the issue number, identically numbered issues for different years would be filed next to each other and not be in useful order.

    Date incorporated in series number

    For many serial titles, agencies will often incorporate the date of the publication in the series number that is assigned to the publication. In that case, treat the publication as a numbered series and use the date as it is incorporated in the series numbering system and printed on the publication.

    For example:

    LC 33.10:90-1 LC science tracer bullet 90-1, Jan. 1990

    Sometimes the agency will place the year designation after the issue number: 1-90. In these cases, ignore the agency designation and use the date, a slash, and the issue number: 990/1. However, this has not been done in many cases in the past when it would have been advisable.

    1. Volume and Number      [ Top ]

    When a serial title is identified by a volume number and issue or part number, the book number consists of the volume number, a slash, and the issue or part number.

    For example:

    L 2.41/2:38/10

    Employment and earnings, volume 38, number 10, October 1991

    2. Date      [ Top ]

    a) Annual Publications      [ Top ]

    For annual and less frequent publications, use the last three digits of the date after the colon.

    For example:

    D 1.1:990

    Annual report to the President and Congress

    For reports of publications covering more than one year, the range of dates is used.

    For example:

    D 208.107:990-91

    Annual register of the United States Naval Academy, 1990-1991

    The number of digits used in the second number depends on how many are needed for clarity. Always use at least two digits in the second date. A publication covering a century or more would require 3 digits in the second number.

    For example:

    895-995 1895 - 1995

    An adjustment to the method of using dates will be required when the year 2000 arrives. The best solution is to use four digits rather than three.

    For example:

    895-2000 1895 - 2000

    b) Semiannual Publications      [ Top ]

    Semiannual publications are treated in much the same way as annuals. The first publication uses the three-digit date. The publication for the second half of the year uses the same date followed by a dash and the number 2.

    For example:

    S 1.69/2:991

    S 1.69/2:991-2

    Foreign Consular Offices in the United States (semiannual)

    TD 4.810:983-2

    Semiannual report to Congress on the effectiveness of the Civil Aviation Security Program, July 1-Dec. 31, 1983

    A -1 is not used on the first issue of a semiannual publication.

    c) Publications Issued Three or More Times a Year      [ Top ]

    Quarterly, monthly, weekly, etc., publications are classified with a 3-digit date, a slash, and a number.

    For example:

    EP 1.21/17:990/1

    Jan.-Mar. 1990

    EP 1.21/17:990/2

    Apr.-June 1990

    Monthly publications not issued in August

     If a publication is monthly, but is not issued in August, then make the September issue number 9, and make a note for the shipping list and on the classification record.

    Combined issues in same year

     If two issues are combined within the same year, use the date, a slash, and both numbers separated by a dash.

    For example:

    989/3-4

    Combined issues in different years

     If two issues for two different years are combined, use dates and separate each by a dash.

    For example:

    989/4-990/1

    d) Release vs. Coverage Date      [ Top ]

    Some serial publications carry both a release date and a coverage date. A decision on which date to use in the class number should be made when establishing the class and should be followed consistently thereafter.

    On a monthly publication, the statistics may cover January 1991, but the most visible date is a February 1991 release date. Do not decide immediately that the class should be 991/2 for the February issue.

    Alternatively, an annual report may carry only a release date on the cover, but further examination indicates that the publication is the annual report for the previous year.

    If a publication is issued weekly and does not contain a volume number or number, use the coverage date in the class.

    Look closely at classes assigned to earlier issues to determine which date is being used for classification purposes. Special caution is necessary at the beginning of a new year.

    In general, it is better to use the coverage date rather than the release date when there is a choice. If the coverage date is not readily discernible, however, use the release date. This decision should be made when the class is first established, then followed consistently throughout the class.

    B. Series      [ Top ]

    A series may be numbered or unnumbered. An unnumbered series is Cuttered (see Chapter 4).

    The series number appearing on a publication is preferred over any other designation in formulating the book number in almost all cases. The series number should be used as printed, with the exception of spacing. It may be necessary to adjust the spacing to conform to the standard GPO classification spacing conventions described in the Overview.

    Numbering system changes

    Sometimes agencies change a series numbering system as the series is developed. An agency may first use dates to identify individual issues in a series, and later change to a numbering system. The classification number should incorporate whatever changes the agency initiates. Changes in the numbering system do not require a new class stem.

    Two series on one publication

    A publication may have two series printed on it. If both series have established classes, use the class for the series appearing first on the title page or cover.

    If only one series is established, use that class even if the other series is presented first on the title page or cover.

    For example:

    I 72.12/2:90-0081

    On cover: OCS study

    MMS 90-0081

    Technical report no. 146

    Departmental control number

    Do not confuse a departmental series number with a departmental control or identification number. The publication offices of some agencies assign numbers to their publications for identification of each specific publication, but this should not be considered a numbered series for classification purposes.

    For example:

    S 1.123:L 97/990

    Background notes, Luxembourg. (Department of State publication 9543)

    The class S 1.123: is for the unnumbered Background notes series. The 9543 is the identification number that the State Department has assigned to the publication.

    HE 3.19/2:109

    Economic forecasting ... (Actuarial note 109, SSA pub. no. 11-11500

    The class HE 3.19/2: is for Actuarial notes. The SSA number is the Social Security Administration's identification or control number.

    HE 23.3008:N 95/v.1

    Nutrition service provider's guide. DHHS publication no. (OHDS) 81-70671

    The class HE 23.3008: is the category class for Handbooks, manuals, and guides of the Administration on Aging. The DHHS publication number is the number assigned by the Department of Health and Human Services to identify this particular publication.

    1. General Series Designations and Specific Book Number      [ Top ]

    The numbers printed on the publications may include letters and numbers identifying the series as well as individual publication numbers. When establishing a new class, use the letters or numbers that are common to the series as a whole as part of the series title. The book number will then consist of the number that identifies the specific title. How much of the number to use should be decided when a new class is established, and continued consistently throughout the class.

    For example:

    D 101.25:MED 250

    Department of the Army technical bulletin TB MED 250

    The TB is not used in the book number because it stands for part of the series title for this class.

    A series may be divided into several subseries, but have only one class stem established for the series as a whole. In this case the book number must include whatever designation the issuing agency has used to differentiate the various subseries.

    For example:

    HE 20.3173/2:

    Cancergrams: Series CT

    HE 20.3173/2:

    Cancergrams: Series CB

    Complete class numbers:

    HE 20.3173/2:CT 01/991/1

    HE 20.3173/2:CB 19/991/1

    If separate classes had been established for the CB 19 series and the CT 10 series, only the numbering unique to the specific titles would be required in the class.

    As a general principle, follow the practice established in each class. In some classes the complete series designation has been used in the book number, although the class stem already identifies the series.

    For example:

    C 3.215/3:

    Construction reports, Value of new construction put in place, C 30-(series)

    C 3.215/3:C 30-91-8

    Construction reports, Value of new construction put in place, August 1991, C 30-91-8

    The book number in this example would have been complete without the C 30, but at the time the class was established, it was decided to use the complete number for this series. Since the designations should be consistent within a class, continue to use the complete number for publications in this and similar series.

    2. Volumes, Parts or Sections      [ Top ]

    Series publications may carry volume numbers alone, or volume numbers and issue numbers. They may carry numbers only and have individual titles: the Farmers bulletins, A 1.9:(nos.). They may carry both dates and volume numbers: Foreign relations of the United States, S 1.1:(date). Or they may carry no numbers and have individual titles: Background notes, S 1.123:(CT).

    A multipart set may have the same series number assigned to all its parts or volumes but not include the part or volume numbers in the series number.

    If the series number printed on the publication does not reflect the part or volume number, the part or volume number should be added to the class.

    For example:

    E 1.35/2:0063/V.2

    Cost guide, DOE/MA-0063

    volume 2

    If the series numbering does include individual part numbers, use the number as printed, with no further addition.

    For example:

    A 1.76:529-47

    A catalog of the Coleoptera of America north of Mexico, Family: Heteroceridae. Agriculture Handbook 529-47

    A 1.76:529-49

    A catalog of the Coleoptera of America north of Mexico, Family: Dryopidae. Agriculture handbook 529-49

    Sometimes a larger publication, in addition to carrying volume and number designations, will also carry a part or section number. If this occurs, another slash is added, followed by the abbreviation PT. or SEC. and the number. The PT. is used as part of the class but not V. and NO.

    For example:

    AE 2.106/3:26/PT.1(SEC.1.0-1.60)/991

    Some earlier classes used the abbreviations for volume and number as part of the class number.

    For example:

    LC 3.6/5:V.31/PT.14/NO.2

    Catalog of copyright entries, Third series, volume 31, part 14, Sound recordings, number 2, July-Dec. 1977

    If V. and NO. were used as part of the class when the class was established, discontinue this practice when new issues are received.

    3. Revised Editions      [ Top ]

    Add a slash and the date to revised editions of publications in numbered series that are assigned the same series number as the original edition.

    For example:

    A 13.52:162

    The gypsy moth, Forest insect

    & disease leaflet 162 (1980)

    A 13.52:162/989

    Gypsy moth, Forest insect

    & disease leaflet 162 (1989)

    Formerly, revisions of numbered publications were classified by using the slash and additional figures beginning with /2. This practice has been discontinued.

A service of the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office.
Questions or comments: asklps@gpo.gov.
Last updated: December 5, 2000 
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