Penn State University Libraries - Field-by-Field Guidelines

This section contains specific instructions on acceptance of copy and demonstrates what to change, add, delete or question. These guidelines are Copy Cataloging-specific.

Use Bibliographic Processing Cataloging Rules to transcribe fixed fields for language, date type, date 1/2 and descriptive fields 010, 020, 245-4XX and 8XX when information is lacking or erroneous.

Accept copy unless information is clearly wrong or missing. Expect minor variations between these rules and copy due to differences in judgment.

Fields are listed in numerical order, with short descriptions and processing instructions. Boxed information will list indicators and common subfields. A letter "R" in parentheses indicates that the field or subfield is repeatable. Complete tagging information for each field can be found in OCLC Bibliographic Formats and Standards. See also LC's MARC 21 Concise Format for Bibliographic Data.