Grouping publications

Three fields link related publications, each in a different way:

• Series: records the series a publication appeared in
• Parent publication: connects the parts of a multi-volume work
• Original title: groups different editions or translations of the same work

To gather publications for a project or a team, use collections instead.

Series

The Series field links separate publications that a publisher or institution issues under a shared series title. It suits:

• Scholarly series
• Technical documentation series
• Publication series from institutes or organisations

Examples

• “Berichte aus der Bauforschung”
• “Fortschrittsberichte VDI”
• “Lecture Notes in Computer Science”

Best practices

• Use the official series title
• Keep the spelling consistent
• If the publication has a number within the series, enter it in the Number field

Parent publication

A parent publication gives a multi-volume work its structure: it links the individual volumes or parts to the main work.

Examples

• “Beton-Kalender 2024” with Part 1 and Part 2
• Multi-volume handbooks such as the “ASM Handbook”
• Proceedings published in several volumes

Best practices

1. Create the parent publication first:

   • Use a descriptive title without volume or part numbers
   • Record general metadata such as editors, publisher and year
   • Choose the matching publication type (for example Book or Periodical)

2. Then catalogue the individual volumes:

   • Give each volume its own title with its volume or part number
   • Link each volume to the main work in the Parent publication field
   • Record the metadata specific to each volume

Original title

In library terms the field is the uniform title. Clicking a publication’s original title lists every publication that shares it. The original title brings together different manifestations of the same work. It is especially useful for:

• Different editions (for example annual updates)
• Translations into other languages

Print and PDF of the same edition stay one publication: attach the PDF as a file and record the printed book as a hard copy.

Examples

• “Schneider Bautabellen” (different years)
• “Stahlbau-Kalender” (annual editions)
• “Wendehorst Bautechnische Zahlentafeln” (new editions)
• “Roark’s Formulas for Stress and Strain” (new editions)
• “CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics” (annual editions)

Best practices

• Use a consistent, timeless title without year or edition
• For translations, use the title in the original language
• Write down how your team uses the field, so everyone applies it the same way

Decision aid: which field should I use?

To pick the right field for your case, ask yourself these questions:

1. Is it the same work in different versions? → Use the original title

   • Example: different editions of the “Schneider Bautabellen”

2. Is the publication part of a larger work? → Use the parent publication

   • Example: volumes 1 and 2 of the “Beton-Kalender 2024”

3. Was the publication issued in a series? → Enter the series

   • Example: “Berichte aus der Bauforschung”

Decision tree for choosing the right grouping field