An Introduction to MARC 21 Cataloging

by Stephen Zenn, for LIS 650-04, Fall 2004, LIU Westchester Graduate Campus
Professor Thomas Krichel

Contents

I. Introduction
II. Commonly Used Fields
III. Indicators and Subfields
IV. The Header Field
V. Frequently Asked Questions

II. Commonly Used Fields

Below are some of the most basic and commonly used MARC 21 fields, those that are essentially the bare minimum needed to create a comprehensive bibliographic record. Note that these are solely discriptions of the fields and how they are used; details about their indicators and subfields can be found in Part III.

Note:What follows is not a complete list of the different fields, just the most basic ones. For a full list, please refer to the LOC's MARC 21 Consise Format for Bibliographic Data.

Field Names

  1. 1xx - Main Entry Fields
  2. 2xx - Title/Publication Fields
  3. 300 - Physical Discriptions
  4. 4xx - Series Fields
  5. 5xx - Note Fields
  6. 6xx - Subject Fields
  7. 7xx - Added Entry Fields

1. 1xx - Main Entry Fields (100,110,130)

The Main Entry fields are used to create what is called the "access point", the header used in a record. Mostly people use the creator or author of a work, or titles that are widely used, to build the record around.

a. 100 - Main Entry: Personal Name
The personal name entry is used for single personal author or creator, mainly the way they are credited on the title page (ie. pseudonyms or initials). Subfields within this can be used to add any other exteraneous information, like titles or dates, associated with the author. If needed, this can be used to identify anonymous writers as well, provided the author is known.

Examples:

110 - Main Entry: Corporate Name
This is used to denote that a "corporate" entity, like a company, group, or institution, is responsible for the creation of the work. It is done mainly when no single author is known, but the corporation responsible is. Examples include catalogs created for art displays or government/medical/industrial studies, among many others.

Examples:

130 - Main Entry: Uniform Title
A "uniform title" is a title of a work that is univerally recognized as the collective title when referring to other versions of it, such as reprints or foreign language translations. They are used for easier cataloging classification, since the basic title encompasses all iterations of the same work.

Examples:

2. 2xx - Title/Publication Fields (245, 246, 250, 260)

The Title and Publication fields are used to detail information about a work's title, author, and various publication information such as edtion, publisher, and date of publication.

245 - Title Statement
Already discussed in the introduction, the Title Statement is the information given on the title page of a work exactly as it is displayed. Proper MARC cataloging requires that no title page information be altered, and everything be entered as it is.

Examples:

246 - Varying Form of Title
This is used whenever there is a clear variation on the title page's title anywhere else in the book, like on the front cover or the spine. This is important since what is seen in the catalog might not be as apparent in a book that is not titled the same way, so notification of it must be made to avoid confusion.

Examples:

250 - Edition Statement
Quite simply, this is used to show which edition a work is, which is usually stated clearly on the title page's verso (the flipped over title page). Most often it is something like "First edition" or "2nd edition", but often there are revised editions or reprints that offer significant differences from earlier editions. As with the title page, this must not be altered in any way.

260 - Publication, Distribution, Etc. (Imprint)
This field is used for the description of the publication information, basically the place of publication, publisher, and date. For publications released worldwide as well as America by the same publisher, the U.S. location should be given priority; for publications that are predominantly published outside the country but also published in the U.S. by a different publisher, both or all should be mentioned, with the U.S. location put last.

Examples:

3. 300 - Physical Descriptions

The Physical Descriptions field is just that - an account of the content (pagination, plates of artwork, duration, etc.), dimensions in centimeters, and other various details that will be useful in identifying the resource.

Examples:

4. 4xx - Series Fields (440, 490)

For most new catalogers, the series fields are the most confusing and awkward to use. These are used when a work proclaims itself to be part of a series - usage of them depends mostly on whether or not the series title has been properly "traced" by the proper authorities, like OCLC.

440 - Series Statement/ Added Entry - Title (Traced Added Entry)
This is used for a series statement that has been fully traced and identified. In other words, this is the "official" title of the series, the one that is used to group each individual part of it.

Examples:

490 - Series Statement (Untraced)
When a series is not fully traced, this field is used. The series name may be one that is traced differently - for example, when the name on the work is altered from the official traced title in some way, or one a localized series title that has not been traced.

Examples:

5. 5xx - Note Fields (500, 504)

The Note Fields are used by the cataloger to point out any important features that might make the work easier for the patron to identify. These include the presence of indexes or bibliographies, unique physical properties, or any citations made by the publishers relevant to the publication or distribution.

500 - General Note
The general note field is where most catalogers put extraneous information that cannot be cataloged within the basic fields. These range from basic sentences pointing out special features to lengthy statements that the publisher might make in the title page or its verso. Information like edition statements and lists of art venues where an exhibition has been held are usually included here. Also, if there is only an index present in the book without a bibliography of some kind, the 500 field is where this note is traditionally made.

Examples:

504 - Bibliography, Etc. Note
The Bibliography note is used to denote whenever there is a bibliography or references made in any form, either as a separate section, through footnotes, or by other means. When working with monographs, the uniform way to mention the presence of a bibliography is by saying "Includes bibliographic references", along with the page number(s) in parentheses. If an index is present as well, it should be mentioned here rather than in a separate 500 field for convenience.

6. Subject Fields (600, 610, 630, 650)

The Subject Fields are where the subject headings for each record are made according to the various authorities in subject classification; in the United States, this is predominantly the Library of Congress Subject Headings. All headings must conform to the recognized classifications set forth by these governing bodies; for more information about LC Subject Headings, see the published tables or or their recently created online resources.

600, 610, 630 - Subject Added Entry: Personal Name, Corporate Name, Uniform Title
These fields work just like the Main Entry fields (1xx), but should be created according to the LC's subject heading rules. They can be further subdivided into geographical, chronological, or general terms, depending on the cataloger's preferences.

Examples:

650 - Subject Added Entry: Topical Term
The other most widely used subject field, this can accomodate general subject terms and topics. These can also be further subdivided by general, geographic, and chronological terms if desired.

Examples:

7. Added Entry Fields (Dedicated - 700, 710,730)

The dedicated Added Entry Fields are mainly used to include other authors or titles that were not included within the main entry or subject fields, such as when a work has multiple authors. They are very similiar to the main entry fields, except with a few exclusive subfields and indicators, and should be used roughly the same way.

Examples:

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