Chinese Serials: History, Characteristics, and Cataloging Considerations

Chinese serials are an indispensable component of American academic library collections that have Chinese language or studies programs. This special type of collection has not only attracted the interest of Chinese scholars, but has also been more in demand by university students, faculty and researchers in the related fields. Academic libraries, especially those outside East Asian collections, face multiple challenges in ensuring access to this unique material due to limited library budgets and cataloging staff. This article focuses on enhancing the understanding of Chinese serials and the challenges in processing and cataloging this type of material, including a brief history of Chinese serials, a description of their unique characteristics, and issues concerning cataloging practice. [Article copies available for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1-800-HAWORTH. E-mail address: Website: © 2003 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.]