Per RDA Abbreviations, metric dimensions (e.g., cm) are not considered abbreviations and so should not end with a period.
If there is a 490 series statement, however, cm IS followed by a period based on the ISBD requirement that a series statement be PRECEDED by space full stop space (D1.2.7). ISBD also requires that each NOTE be preceded by space full stop space dash space or start a new paragraph for each. Does this mean that if you start a new paragraphs, as for the 1st note, you don't need to precede it by a space full stop, let alone the space full stop dash space? The sample records in RDA Toolkit (Tools/Examples of RDA records) show a period after every instance of "cm" except for the example on p. 15-16. Of the examples with cm., most do NOT have series statements but DO have at least one note. The one example on p. 16 with cm has no series but does have a note. Is this one example an error? Or are all the examples with cm. and no series the erroneous ones? Marilou Z. Hinchcliff, Coordinator of Cataloging and Interim Coordinator of Collection Development Harvey A. Andruss Library Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania 400 E. 2nd St. Bloomsburg PA 17815 570-389-4226 mhinc...@bloomu.edu
