Multipart holdings are compressed and recorded at the highest level of enumeration (summary statement) whenever possible. A hyphen is used to indicate compression.
However, part holdings must be recorded at detailed level when the set is incomplete at subsequent levels of enumeration. Also, keep in mind that the standard states:
"If it is necessary to record both first-level and subsequent level enumeration in the holdings statement, repeat all levels of enumeration at the beginning and end of each range held." (ANSI p. 29).
In the following example, each volume is in 2 parts. Vol. 4, part 2 is not held. Although v. 1 is complete, the subsequent enumeration level is recorded following the standard. Since vols. 5 through 7 are complete, the range is recorded at the most general level.
| 866 | 4 | 1 | ‡8 0 ‡a v.1:pt.1-v.4:pt.1, |
| 866 | 4 | 1 | ‡8 0 ‡a v.5-v.7 |
For volumes issued in parts intended to be bound when the volume is complete (e.g. fascicles, lieferungen), part-level detail must be eliminated when the volume is complete. Note that itemized statements (rather than compression) were used for the highest level of the hierarchy to avoid recording subsequent enumeration levels for the completed volumes.
| 866 | 4 | 1 | ‡8 0 ‡a v.1 |
| 866 | 4 | 1 | ‡8 0 ‡a v.2:fasc.1-v.2:fasc.4, |
| 866 | 4 | 1 | ‡8 0 ‡a v.3 |
NOT:
| 866 | 4 | 1 | ‡8 0 ‡a v.1:fasc.1-v.1:fasc.12 |
| 866 | 4 | 1 | ‡8 0 ‡a v.2:fasc.1-v.2:fasc.4, |
| 866 | 4 | 1 | ‡8 0 ‡a v.3:fasc.1-v.3:fasc.12 |
However, with multipart monographs it is recognized that there may be situations when compression cannot be performed or might cause significant workflow problems. In certain broad situations, catalogers have the option of recording holdings data in itemized (non-compressed) form, e.g.:
- Recon records, where earlier holdings were not recorded using ANSI standards and conversion to the ANSI standard would be very time consuming or require re-examination of the earlier volumes
- Holdings for locations that do not use item records, e.g. Beinecke. (In the absence of item records, the detailed breakdown of the physical items owned can only be captured in a non-compressed holdings field)
Otherwise, for sets with volumes in parts not intended to be bound when the volume is complete, it is not required that holdings for the set be compressed and part-level detail be eliminated when the set is completed. Generally a set with uncomplicated numbering is recorded as a general summary statement; for a set with irregular part numbering, cataloger judgment will determine whether or not to use a summary statement. Cf. Examples 5-3c-d below.
Although the standard now permits open-ended holdings statements, Yale policy is not to use such statements for multiparts.