Penn State University Libraries - MARC Fixed Fields Cheat Sheet

MARC (Books) Format

This is an abbreviation of the USMARC standard, showing the most common and likely values for inputting Monographic records in Unicorn. This checklist is most useful for Creating new records in Workflows - to check codes on imported records, fuller information is available at the LC Website.

Rec_Type - Type of record (LDR/06) [OCLC: Mandatory]

• a = Language material (default)
• t = Manuscript language material [used for theses]

Note: There are other valid values for this element, but in order to use them, you need to change the Format on the Control tab.

Bib_Lvl - Bibliographic level (LDR/07) [OCLC: Mandatory]

• a = Monographic component part [analytic]
• c = Collection [for archival materials]
• d = Subunit [for archival materials]
• m = Monograph (default)

Note: There are also values for serial materials, but in order to use them, you need to change the Format on the Control tab. Except for special collections materials, accept the default.

Enc_Lvl - Encoding Level (LDR/17) [OCLC: Mandatory]

MARC 21 values [use in Unicorn]

• [blank] = Full level (Default)
• 1 = Full level, material not examined [use for retro conversion without the item in hand]
• 4 = Core [may be used for original cataloging]
• 5 = Partial (preliminary) level [use for MLP]
• 7 = Minimal level [use for MLC]
  
  

OCLC values [used in OCLC only]

• I = Full level input by OCLC partipant [use for full records input in OCLC]
• K = Less-than-full input by OCLC particupants

Desc - Descriptive cataloging form (LDR/18) [OCLC: Mandatory]

• [blank] = Non-ISBD [used for pre-AACR2 cataloging]
• a = AACR2 (default)
• i = ISBD [do not use]
• u = Unknown [do not use; use [blank] if not certain]

TypeCtrl - Type of control (LDR/08) [OCLC: Required if applicable]

• [blank] = No specified type [use for all non-archival materials] (default)
• a = Archival

Entrd - Date entered on file (008/00-05) [OCLC: System-supplied]

6 digits supplied by the system; do not change

Dat_Tp - Type of date (008/06) [OCLC: Mandatory]

Note: The following codes are given in order of precedence; use the first applicable code in the list.

• b = No dates given; B.C. date involved [do not use]
• i = Inclusive dates of collection [use only for archival materials]
• k = Range of years of bulk of collection [use only for archival materials]
• r = Reprint/reissue date and original date [use for reprints as appropriate]
• m = Multiple dates
• e = Detailed date [do not use]
• s = Single known date/probably date (default)
• p = Date of distribution/release/issue and production/recording session [do not use in this format]
• t = Publication date and copyright date [use when copyright date is given in 260c]
• q = Questionable date [use when 260c says "between yyyy and yyyy"]
• n = Dates unknown [use when there is no date in 260c]

Note: Date type "c" used to have a different meaning for monographs (it is the same as "t", publication date and copyright date.) However, since format integration, Date type "c" means "current," which it has always meant for serials, in all formats. In most older monographs, records coded "c" are wrong and should be changed to "t".

Date1 and Date2 (008/07-10 and 11-14) [OCLC: Mandatory]

Note: Fill in the dates as usual, based on 260c; use "u" for any uncertain digits: for example, 260 $c[199-] would be coded Date1: 199u.

Ctry - Place of publication, production, or execution (008/15-17) [OCLC: Required if applicable]

Note: The default for this element is a [blank], which is not a correct value. The correct code should be input. The table is available in Cataloger's Desktop and on the LC Web site. The code for US places is a state code, followed by a "u" so the code for any place in Pennsylvania would be "pau."

Lang- Language (008/35-37) [OCLC: Mandatory]

Note: The default code is "eng" for English. Other codes are listed in the MARC Code List for Languages in Cataloger's Desktop or on the LC Website.

Mod_Rec- Modified record (008/38) [OCLC: Required if applicable]

• [blank] = Not modified (default)

Note: Other values are used when converting a printed LC card; for new cataloging accept the default.

Source - Cataloging source (008/39) [OCLC: Mandatory]

• [blank] = National bibliograpic agency [LC]
• c = Cooperative cataloging program [PCC]
• d = Other (default)

Illus - Illustrations (008/18-21) [OCLC: Optional]

• [blank] = No illustrations (default)

Note: There are other values, but since this element is optional, do not change copy and accept the default for locally-created records. [???]

Audience - Target audience (008/22) [OCLC: Optional]

• [blank] = Unknown or not specified (default)
• j = Juvenile [use if the item is in one of our juvenile collections or gets ItemType: JUVENILBK or has "Juvenile literature/fiction" subject subdivisions]

Note: There are more specific values for preschool, primary, etc.; accept copy but do not use on locally created records. [???]

Repr - Form of item (008/23) [OCLC: Required if applicable]

• [blank] = None of the following (default)
• a = Microfilm
• b = Microfiche
• c = Microopaque
• d = Large print
• f = Braille
• r = Regular print reproduction
• s = Electronic [use for electronic reproductions, i.e., when field 533 is used]

Cont - Nature of contents (008/24-27) [OCLC: Optional]

• [blank] = No specified nature of contents (default)
• b = Bibliographies [use when the item is a bibliography or contains a 504 bibliography note]

Note: There are many other values; since this element is optional, accept copy and do not use when creating new records.

GovtPub - Government Publication (008/28) [OCLC: Mandatory]

• [blank] = Not a government publication (default)
• a = Autonomous or semi-autonomous component [rarely used]
• c = Multilocal [use for regional jurisdictions like a consolidated school district or a regional council of governments]
• f = Federal/national
• i = International intergovernmental [use for bodies like the United National or European Union]
• l = Local
• m = Multistate
• o = Government publication, level undetermined
• s = State, provincial, territorial, dependent, etc.
• u = Unknown if item is a government publication
• z = Other [use for a government publication that doesn't fit any of the above]

ConfPub - Conference publication (008-29) [OCLC: Mandatory]

• 0 = Not a conference publication (default)
• 1 = Conference publication

Festschr - Festschrift (008/30) [OCLC: Mandatory]

• 0 = Not a festschrift (default)
• 1 = Festschrift

Indx - Index (008-31) [OCLC: Optional]

• 0 = No index (default)
• 1 = Index present [use when the item contains an index]

Fiction - Literary form (008/33) [OCLC: Optional]

• 0 = Not fiction (not further specified) (default)
• 1 = Fiction (not further specified)

Note: There are other more specific types; since this is optional, do not change copy and do not use the more specific codes on new records.

Biog - Biography (008/34) [OCLC: Optional]

• [blank] = No biographical material (default)
• a = Autobiography
• b = Individual biography
• c = Collective biography
• d = Contains biographical information