The purpose of this project was to determine if publishers, by numbering a monographic series, facilitate the acquisition or retrieval of individual monographs. Treatment of monographic series has been erratic for several reasons: (1) changing cataloging codes; (2) inconsistency by the library of Congress in regard to series added entries and analysis; and (3) inconsistency by publishers in numbering and designating series. Because changing cataloging codes have arguably had the greatest impact on the manner in which librarians treat monographic series, the first part of this paper traces the evolution of national cataloging codes and policies directly related to monographic series. The second section discusses the results of a survey of collection development librarians from Ohio academic and public libraries which addressed the topic from the collection development point of view. Librarians at 24 libraries--4 each from small, medium, and large academic libraries and small, medium, and large public libraries--received a mailed survey; 16 responses were received. The results of the survey confirm what the literature on monographic series stresses: there is a lack of agreement by librarians on the definitions of "serial" and "monographic series." It also appears that numbering monographic series does not greatly enhance the possibility that the series will be placed on standing order, but that it does increase the likelihood that the individual monographs will be fully cataloged and more accessible to patrons. Copies of the questionnaire sent to librarians and the cover letter are appended. (Contains 32 references.) (Author/KRN)