Background Information
Tags--these 3-digit numbers are underlined. The tags are followed by the names of the fields they represent. If the tag can appear more than once in one bibliographicrecord, it is designated "R" (i.e., repeatable). If it can only be used once, it is non-repeatable (NR).
Indicators--1-digit numbers explaied in the fields where they are used. Beginning with the 010 field, in every field 2 spaces are left following the tag, one for Indicator 1 and one for Indicator 2. However, the indicators are not actually defined in all fields. One indicators may be used, while the other remains undefined.
Subfield codes--the data in each field is divided into subfields, each of which is preceded by a subfield code. The most common subfield codes used with each tag are displayed as an underline character followed b a letter or number. The name of the subfield follows the code.
Examples follow the explanation for each field. # = a blank space. For clarity, one space has been placed between
010 LCCN (Library of Congress Control Number) NR
Indicators undefined.
Subfield used most often:
_a LCCN
Example: 010 ## _a 86000988
020 ISBN (International Standard Book Number) R
Indicators undefined.
Subfield used most often:
_a ISBN
Example: 020 ## _a 0877547637
022 ISSN (International Standard Serial Number) R
Indicator 1 is usually blank, and Indicator 2 is undefined
Subfield used most often:
_a ISSN
Example: 022 ## _a 0034-5678
040 Cataloging Source NR
Indicators undefined.
Subfields used most often:
_a Cataloging source
_c Transcribing agency
Example: 040 ## _a gwhs
_c gwhs
100 Personal name main entry (primary author) NR
Indicator
1: Type of personal name
0 Forename only
1 Single surname (this is the most common form)
2 Multiple surname
3 Name of family
Indicator
2 undefined. Indicator 2 became obsolete in 1990. Older records will display:
0 Main entry is not the subject (most common)
1 Main entry is subject
Subfields
used most often:
_a Name
_b Numeration
_c Titles and other words associated with the name
_q Qualification of a name (fuller form)
_d Dates (of birth - and death if deceased)
Example:
100 1# _a Gregory, Ruth W.
_q (Ruth Wilhelme),
_d 1910-
130 Main entry - Uniform title NR
Indicator
1: Nonfiling characters
0-9 Number of nonfiling characters (for initial articles, counting spaces)
Indicator
2 undefined. Indicator 2 became obsolete in 1990. See 100 above.
Subfields used most often:
_a Uniform title
_p Name of part R
_l Language
_s Version
_f Date of a work
Example: 130 0# _a Bible.
_p O.T.
_p Psalms.
240 Uniform title NR
Indicator 1: Uniform title printed on card
0 Not printed on card
1 Printed on card (most common)
Indicator 2: No filing characters
0-9 Number of nonfiling characters (For initial articles, counting spaces)
Subfields used most often:
_a Uniform title
_l Language
_f Date of a work
Example: 240 10 _a Ile mysterieuse.
_l English.
_f 1978
245 Title Statement NR
Indicator 1: Should the title be indexed as a title added entry?
0 No title added entry (indicates a title main entry; i.e., no author is
given)
1 Title added entry (The proper indicator when an author is entered; most
common)
Indicator 2: Number of nonfiling characters
0-9 The number of nonfiling characters, including spaces; usually set at
zero, except
when the title begins with an article; e.g., for The robe, the second
indicator would
be set at 4. The letters t, h, e, and the space following them are then
ignored in
alphabetizing titles, The book will be alphabetized with the "r's"
Subfields used most often:
_a The title
_h GMD (General Material Designation; often used for media)
_b Remainder of title (subtitles, etc.)
_c Statement of responsibility
Example: 245 14 _a The DNA story :
_b a documentary history of gene cloning /
_c James D. Watson, John Tooze.
250 Edition statement NR
Indicators undefined.
Subfield used most often:
_a Edition statement
Example: 250 ## _a 6th ed.
260 Publication, distribution, etc. NR
Indicators undefined. Indicator 1 became obsolete in 1990. Older records
will display:
0 Publisher is present (most common)
1 Publisher is not present
Subfields used most often:
_a Place R
_b Publisher R
_c Date R
Example: 260 ## _a New York :
_b Chelsea House,
_c 1986.
300 Physical description R
Indicators undefined.
Subfields used most often:
_a Extent (number of pages)
_b Other physical details (usually illustration information)
_c Dimensions (cm.)
_e Accompanying material ("teacher's guide" or "manual")
Example: 300 ## _a 139 p. :
_b ill. ;
_c 24 cm.
440 Series statement/Added entry - Title R
Indicator 1 undefined.
Indicator
2: Nonfiling characters
0-9 Number of nonfiling characters (for initial articles, including species)
Subfield used most often:
_a Series title
Example: 440 #0 _a Modern critical views
490 Series statement/No added entry - Title R
Indicator
1: Specifies whether an 8XX tag is also present, tracing the series differently
0 Series not traced
1 Series traced differently (8XX is in record)
Indicator
2 undefined.
Subfield used most often:
_a Series statement
Example: 490 1# _a Colonial American craftsmen
500 General notes R
Indicators undefined.
Subfield used most often:
_a General notes; used when no specialized note field has been defined for the information.
(Examples: Notes regarding the index; the source of the title; variations in title;
descriptions of the nature, form, or scope of the item.)
Example: 500 ## _a Includes index.
504 Bibliography note R
Indicators undefined.
Subfield used most often:
_a Bibliography note.
Example: 594 ## _a Includes bibliography.
505 Formatted contents note NR
Indicator
1: Type of contents note
0 Complete contents
1 Incomplete contents (multi-volume set when some volumes are not yet published)
2 Partial contents
Indicator 2 undefined.
Subfield usd most often:
_a Formatted contents note.
Example: 505 0# _a Bartleby the scriener--Benito Cereno--Billy Budd
520 Summary, abstract, or annotation R
Indicator 1 is normally blank and Indicator 2 is undefined.
Subfield used most often:
_a Summary, abstract, annotation
Example: 520 ## _a This basic guide to parliamentary procedure tells how to conduct
and participate in a meeting properly.
600 Subject added entry - Personal name R
Indicator
1: Type of personal name
0 Forename only
1 Single surname (most common form)
2 Multiple surname
3 Name of family
Indicator
2: Subject heading list or authority file (source of heading)
0 Library of Congress subject headings or LC authority file
1 Children's subject headings
2 NLM authority files
3 NAL subject authority file
4 Source not specified
5 Canadian subject headings/NLC authority files
6 French subject headings/French authority file
7 Source specified in subfield _2
(Since LC doesn't provide an assigned indicator for Sears subject headings,
some
databases use an indicator of 8 for tat purpose. In others, an indicator
of 7 is used,
and the word Sears is placed in subfield _2.)
Subfields used most often:
_a Name (surname and forename)
_b Numeration
_c Titles and other words associated with the name
_q Qualification of a name (fuller form)
_d Dates (of birth - and death, if deceased)
_x General subdivision
_y Chronological subdivision
_z Geographic subdivision
_2 Source of heading or term (used with 2nd indicator of 7)
Example: 600 10 _a Shakespeare, William,
_d 1564-1616
_x Comedies
_x Stage history.
610 Subject added entry - Corporate name R
Indicator
1: Type of corporate name entry element
0 Inverted name (not used with AACR2)
1 Jurisdiction name
2 Name in direct order
Indicator
2: Subject heading list. See undicator 2 under 600
Subfields used most often:
_a Corporate name or jurisdiction name
_b Subordinate unit R
_x General subdivision
_y Chronological subdivision
_z Geographic subdivision
_2 Source of heading or term (used with 2nd indicator of 7)
Example: 610 10 _a United States.
_b Army Air Forces
_x Biography.
650 Subject added entry - Topical heading (location of ost subject headings) R
Indicator 1 is normally blank.
Indicator 2: Subject heading list. See indicator 2 uner 600
Subfields used most often:
_a Topical heading
_x General subdivision
_y Chronological subdivision
_z Geographic subdivision
_2 Source of heading or term (used with 2nd indicator of 7)
Example: 650 #0 _a Theater
_z United States
_x Biography
_x Dictionaries
651 Subject added entry - Geographic name R
Indicator 1 is undefined.
Indicator 2: Subject heading list. See indicator 2 under 600
Subfields used most often:
_a Geographic name or place
_x General subdivision
_y Chronological subdivision
_z Geographic subdivision
_2 Source of heading or term (used with 2nd indicator of 7)
Example: 651 #0 _a United States
_x History
_x Chronology.
700 Added entry - Personal name R
Indicator
1: Type of personal name
0 Forename only
1 Single surname (most common form)
2 Multiple surname
3 Name of family
Indicator
2: Type of added entry
1 Alternative entry (most common)
2 Secondary entry
3 Analytical entry
(In simple terms, an alternative entry would
be one that is equal to the main entry, such as a joint author; a secondary
entry would be of lesser importance than the author, such as an illustrator;
and an analytical entry would be someone involved with only a portion of
the work.)
Subfields used most often:
_a Name
_b Numeration
_c Titles and other words associated with the name
_q Qualification of a name (fuller form)
_d Dates (of birth - and death if deceased)
_e Relator (such as ill.)
Example: 700 10 _a Baldridge, Letitia.
710 Added entry - Corporate name R
Indicator
1: Type of corporate name entry element
0 Inverted name (not used with AACRs)
1 Jurisdiction name
2 Name in direct order
Indicator 2: Type of added entry
0 Alternative entry (most common)
1 Secondary entry
2 Analytical entry
Subfields used most often:
_a Corporate name or jurisdiction name
_b Subordinate unit
Example: 710 21 Sunburst Communications (Firm)
740 Added entry - Variant title R
Indicator
1: Nonfiling characters
0-9 Number of nonfiling characters (for initial articles, counting spaces)
Indicator
2: Type of added entry
0 Alternative entry
1 Secondary entry (the usual entry)
2 Analytical entry
Subfields used most often:
_a Title traced differently
Example: 740 01 _a Rules of order newly revised.
800 Series added entry - Personal name R
Indicator
1: Type of personal entry element
0 Forename only
1 Single surname
2 Multiple surname
3 Family name
Indicator 2 undefined.
Subfields used most often:
_a Personal name
_b Numeration
_c Titles and other words associated with the name
_q Quaification of a name (fuller form)
_d Dates (of birth - and death if deceased)
_t Title of the series
Example 800 1# _a Fisher, Leonard Everett.
_t Colonial American raftsmen.
830 Series added entry - Uniform title R
Indicator 1 undefined.
Indicator
2: Nonfiling characters
0-9 Number of nonfiling charactes (for initial articles, counting spaces)
Subfields
used most often:
_a Series uniform title
Example: 830 #0 _a Railroads of America (Macmillan)
852 Location R
Indicator
1: Shelving scheme
0 No information provided
1 LC classification
2 Dewey Decimal classification (most common)
3 NLM classification
4 SuDocs classification
5 Shelving control number
6 Title
7 Shelved separately
8 Other scheme
Indicator 2: Shelving order
0 No information provided (default)
1 Not enumeration
2 Primary enumeration
3 Alternative enumeration
Subfields used most often:
_a Location
_b Subloction or collection
_h Classification portion of call number (or entire call number with
space between each line)
_i Item part of call number (cuttering or author line/letters
_k Call number prefix
_m Call number suffix
_t Copy number
_p Piece designation (barcode number)
_9 Purchase price (preceded by p and followed by currency code; usd = U.S.
dollars)
Example: 852 1# _a gwhs
_b teachers' lounge
_h 372.4
_i GRA
_k PROF
_t 2
_p 14783
_9 p21.55usd
[adapted from Follett's Understanding MARC]