Date of Publication Note (362)

The Date of Publication (MARC Field 362) carries information about the first and/or last issue or part of a serial. CONSER practice is to always use an unformatted 362 1# note (e.g., to cite the first or last issue, whether that information comes from the issue in hand or has been confirmed by the cataloger from another source. Include beginning and/or ending numbering when information is known. The issues cited may come from the piece, the publisher, or other sources (e.g., publisher websites, union lists, etc.).

⮚When to Omit the 362 field

The cataloger (based on cataloger judgment) may omit the 362 for newly created records or for titles that have ceased if unable to ascertain a Began” or Ceased date for any of the preferred sources and other sources of information (e.g., publisher’s website) authorized by RDA. 

As a rule, do not guess the beginning date of publication. When in doubt as to whether the issue in hand is the first (e.g., the issue has a date only), prefer to give Description based on and Latest issue consulted notes only and omit the 362 field. If the cataloger is able to ascertain a probable Began or Ceased date, place a question mark after the date. Known dates (the issue in hand or a surrogate), must be transcribed as it appears in the source. 

⮚Recording the Date of Publication

CONSER Practice is to supply numbering/dates of publication of the first/last issues whenever this information is available, regardless of whether the first/last issue(s) are in hand.

362 1# Began in July 1949.

362 1# Began with: v. 4, published in 1947.

362 1# Ceased with: 2 (1964).

362 1# Began in 1963?

362 1# Began in 2001?

362 1# Ceased publication.

362 1# Began with: Vol. 1 (Mar. 1980).

362 1# Began with: Vol. 77, núm. 1 (Enero/Abr. 1981).

Issue dates and volume designations are recorded as given on the serial. When both a numeric designation and a chronological designation are given, the chronological designation is enclosed in parentheses.

362 1# Ceased with: v. 9.

362 1# Ceased with 2 (1959).

Use a single unformatted 362 field to record the beginning and ending numbering/dates of publication whenever this information is available.

362 1# Began with: Vol. 85B, no. 1 (Jan./Feb. 1945); ceased with: v. 92, no. 6 (Nov./Dec. 1952).

The beginning dates of the print version, when known, may be given in a 362 1# field. Give this note in addition to the "Description based on a note" to provide justification for the fixed field beginning date.

362 1# Print began with: Vol. 3, no. 1 (Jan. 1984).