Date in WebOPAC record browse display

[Mieko Yamaguchi <iss053@xxxxxxxxxx>]

I think there was some discussion on this or a related topic on
this list some time ago but I don't seem to be able to find the
relevant messages and in any case there may have been changes
since this problem was last discussed.

In WebOPAC record browse display the date column shows (or
"should show in Release A" since there are bugs obscuring some
of this at present) the date which is used for sorting by year.
Telnet OPAC has apparently always sorted on the last date (or
the last 4 digits) in 260|c and after many complaints from users
Innovative apparently prgorammed the WebOPAC to do the same.  I
understand that future development is likely to adjust the sort
by year function to sort on the most recent date.

This is not very helpful for those serials records which have
start and end dates in 260|c.  Since I'm not a cataloger I don't
understand the rationale of holding this information in 008, 260
and 362 :-), but the presence of the end date in 260|c for non-
current serials means a very confusing browse list.

What do other libraries do?  Do you delete 260|c for serials?
We've had complaints from reference librarians that the display
of dates other than our own holdings for serials is misleading
because patrons assume we have the title from the date that
appears in the OPAC.  If that date is the last date when any
title was published it is even more confusing!

Mieko
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Mieko Yamaguchi                                m.yamaguchi@xxxxxxxxxx
Technical Services Manager/System Coordinator        +44 (0)1248 382970
Main Library, University of Wales Bangor, UK   +44 (0)1248 382979 (Fax)