In the case of multi-volume works, including serials, it is permissible to have records on the Australian National Bibliographic Database for both the set and for individual items that make up the set. However duplicate records for the individual physical volumes are not permitted. To ensure consistency in the description of individual items in multi-volume sets, the following method of description should be used in Libraries Australia, and cataloguers may change national agency records to conform to these guidelines.
One volume
One volume of a multi-part work should be catalogued under its individual author/title or title and a complete bibliographic description of the single volume should be given. Details of the complete set should be given in the series area, e.g.
| 245 | 1 | 0 | ‡aEarly settlement / ‡cJ. Smith |
| 490 | 1 | ‡aHistory of Australia ‡vv. 1 | |
| 830 | 0 | ‡aHistory of Australia ‡vv. 1 |
not
| 245 | 1 | 0 | ‡aHistory of Australia. ‡nVolume 1,‡pEarly settlement / … |
Part is lacking title or dependent on comprehensive title
When cataloguing one part of a multi-part work which lacks a title other than the comprehensive title, or has a title that is dependent upon the comprehensive title of the whole work, use the comprehensive title as the common title of the analytic followed by the numbering and/or any dependent section title, e.g.
| 245 | 1 | 0 | ‡aReport on the wool market. ‡pStatistical appendices … |
not
| 245 | 1 | 0 | ‡aStatistical appendices… |
For more detailed information, see LC rule interpretation 13.3A.
Complete set
When cataloguing the complete set, it should be catalogued under the author/title or title of the complete set. Individual volumes may be listed in a contents note and added entries given for the individual volumes, e.g.
| 245 | 1 | 0 | ‡aHistory of Australia |
| 300 | - | - | ‡a5 v. |
| 505 | 1 | - | ‡aContents: v. 1. Early settlement … |
In a record for the complete set the provision of contents notes and added entries for the individual volumes is optional.
