MARC What You Really Need to Know About This Stuff! Audrey Church Coordinator, School Library Media Program Longwood University

Description Entry/Access Points Subject Headings Classification Number MARC TEMPLATE Puzzle graphic from grg/young/grg335n/

MARC MAchine Reading Cataloging A series of rules for coding bibliographic, authority, and holdings data into a form that can be understood and used in computers Today, we focus on bibliographic data…

MARC formats Are NOT a set of cataloging rules or a catalog code! ARE designed to use with data created by applying standard cataloging rules (AACR2R), standard subject heading lists (usually Sears), and standard classification schemes (usually Abridged Dewey)!

MARC formats Are NOT computer systems! ARE designed to be used in computer automation systems as templates for database structures!

MARC Vocabulary Fields—specific related elements of a bibliographic record Tags—3 digit numbers assigned to a particular field (Example: 245 field=title and statement of responsibility) Indicators—2 character positions (values 0-9) that follow each tag Subfields—smaller portions of a field Subfield codes—one lowercase letter preceded by a delimiter Delimiters—characters that signal a different subfield

A Note About Indicators Two character positions that follow each tag—two single digit numbers! Title field 245: First indicator=1=separate title entry in catalog; this is most common (Books with title main entries have first indicators of 0.) Second indicator=number of characters at beginning of field to be disregarded by computer in sorting and filing process (“The” = 4 ; “A” = 2 ; “An” = 3)

GMD—General Material Designation As defined in Anglo-American Cataloging Rules, 2 nd ed., 1998 Revision— ”a term indicating the broad class of material to which an item belongs (e.g. sound recording)” Enclose in square brackets in 245h. For example 245h [videorecording]

Most Commonly Used MARC Fields (see list)

Sample 300 Physical Description Fields Take a look at those GMDs and SMDs!

6XX Subject Headings Most Common Subfields 600—Personal Name 600aPersonal name 600dDates 600vForm subdivision 650—Topical Term 650aTopical term 650xTopical subdivision 650zGeographic subdivision 650yChronological subdivision 650vForm subdivision

6XX Subject Headings Most Common Subfields, continued 651—Geographic Name 651aGeographic name 651xTopical subdivision 651yChronological subdivision 651vForm subdivision

Why should YOU know MARC? 1.To accurately do original cataloging 2.To “make repairs” to MARC records in your online catalog 3.To authoritatively assess the quality of records a vendor provides 4.To make record enhancements for users

Correcting/Enhancing Vendor MARC Records Check to be sure the LCCN and ISBN match the item in hand Check for name authority control. Correct any errors in 245 and 300 fields. Construct any additional required notes. Check subfields in subject headings. Eliminate extra subject headings.

Audrey Church Instructor, Coordinator, School Library Media Program, Longwood University