⮚Mode of IssuanceThe preferred source is generally the most prominent source on the serial and the source from which a user would be most likely to cite the serial, such as a title page or cover. The preferred source is often important in determining the preferred title (Title Proper) for a serial work (RDA 6.2.2.4). The preferred source is also important for cooperative serials cataloging because other catalogers will use and update the record based on the title taken from the preferred source.
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When a new record is created due to a major change in title or responsibility, or other circumstances, base the description on the first issue that bears the new title or responsible body, or the earliest issue in hand if the first issue is not available or is uncertain.
⮚Pilot or introductory issues. Sometimes the first issue of a serial is issued bearing words such as "premier," "introductory," or "pilot" issue and may or may not have numbering. The issue may be the first issue of a serial run and not a test issue to explore public interest.
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515 ## $a Vol. 1, no. 1 (July 1990) also called Premier-Preview.
⮚Surrogates. In some cases, the earliest issue of a print serial is not available, but the cataloger has a surrogate with adequate information to complete the description. In other cases, a more recent issue of the print serial is not available, but a surrogate is. The surrogate may be a scanned or faxed image of the preferred source or it may be a facsimile online version.
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