GPO Implements New BIBCO Policy on the Use of Surrogates

  • Last Updated: December 14, 2021
  • Published: December 14, 2021

Based on GPO’s recommendation to allow for the use of surrogates in the creation of BIBCO records, on November 24, 2021, the Program for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC) released a revised version of the BIBCO Participants’ Manual (Third edition, Nov. 18, 2021 revision). PCC has implemented a new policy on the use of reliable surrogates to authenticate monograph records as PCC when a physical copy of the resource being cataloged is not available. The new section, F3. Use of Surrogates, defines a reliable surrogate and provides guidelines on cataloging records based on surrogates. The use of surrogates also applies to correcting errors in BIBCO records (section J1.) and retrospective conversion (section J8.). The revision also includes updates to sections related to GPO: E6.5. Superintendent of Documents (SuDocs) Classification and Appendix B. Selected Cataloging Resources.

On December 7, 2021, GPO began to use section F3. Use of Surrogates. GPO has been following the surrogates policy for continuing resources in the CONSER Cataloging Manual, Module 3: Preferred source and other sources of information, Section 3.1.4 Surrogates. The new BIBCO policy will facilitate and expedite GPO’s cataloging and metadata processes, especially for resources for which online versions are available.

A new section on this policy will be added to the GPO Cataloging Guidelines in the near future.

Examples

  • CGP 001168488 - An Act to Codify Maternity Care Coordination Programs at the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for Other Purposes.
  • CGP 001168424 - Women Who Worked on the Home Front World War II Memorial Act : report (to accompany H.R. 3521).
  • CGP 001168415 - Repurposing the C-band to benefit all Americans : hearing before the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, first session, October 29, 2019.

Please submit questions via askGPO, and use the category, Cataloging/Metadata (Policy and Records).