material types for serials and electronic resources

["Zahavi, Naomi" <nzahavi@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Our library uses material type code "p" for all serials except electronic 
serials.

Our library uses material type code "m" for all electronic resources, 
including floppy disks, CD-ROMs, and internet resources like e-books and 
online serials.

Users can limit searches to material type PERIODICAL based on code "p" or 
to E-RESOURCE based on code "m".

This worked fine before the explosion in the number of online serials and 
e-books.  Now we are concerned that when a user is searching for a 
periodical or book, the online version may be the most convenient, or may 
be the only version we have.  Users shouldn't have to consider limiting a 
search twice.

How are other libraries handling this situation?  Do you code your online 
serials as serials, and your e-books as books?  Do you use a material type 
code for electronic resources at all?

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Naomi

Naomi Zahavi
Head Cataloging Librarian
Loyola Marymount University Library     phone: (310)338-7685
One LMU Drive, MS 8200                     fax: (310)338-4366
Los Angeles, CA 90045-2659               email: nzahavi@xxxxxxxxxx