MARC 21 Concise Bibliographic: Control Field 008
Information for Translators and Other Users
Items highlighted in
red indicate changes made after the 2000 edition of
the MARC 21 Concise Formats was published and are included in the 2001
printed edition of the MARC 21 Concise Formats.
This field contains 40 character positions (00-39) that provide coded
information about the record as a whole and about special bibliographic aspects
of the item being cataloged. These coded data elements are potentially useful
for retrieval and data management purposes.
The data elements are positionally-defined. Character positions that are not
defined contain a blank (#). All defined character positions must contain a
defined code; for some field 008 positions, this may be the fill character (|).
The fill character may be used (in certain character positions) when a
cataloging organization makes no attempt to code the character position. The
fill character is not allowed in field 008 positions 00-05 (Date entered on
file). Its use is discouraged in positions 07-10 (Date 1), 15-17 (Place of
publication, production, or execution), and the 008 position defined for Form of
item (either position 23 or 29 depending upon the 008 configuration).
Character positions 00-17 and 35-39 are defined the same across all types of
material, with special consideration for position 06. The definition of
character positions 18-34 was done independently for each type of material,
although certain data elements are defined the same in the specifications for
more than one type of material. When similar data elements are defined for
inclusion in field 008 for different types of material, they occupy the same
field 008 character positions.
In the following documentation, character positions are described in the
order of their listing at the beginning of this section. Field 008 positions
00-17 and 35-39 (All materials) for
all types of material are described first, followed by seven groups of sections
for positions 18-34 (Books, Computer files, Maps,
Music, Serials, Visual materials and Mixed materials).
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Character Positions
- 00-05 - Date entered on file
The computer-generated, six-character
numeric string that indicates the date the MARC record was created. The date
is recorded in the pattern yymmdd.
- 06 - Type of date/Publication status
A one-character code that
indicates that categorizes the type of dates given in 008/07-10 (Date 1) and
008/11-14 (Date 2). For serially-issued items, the code in 008/06 also
indicates the publication status.
The choice of code for 008/06 is made
concurrently with a determination of the appropriate dates for 008/07-14. For
most records data is derived from information in field 260 (Publication,
Distribution, etc. (Imprint)), field 362 (Dates of Publication and/or Sequential Designation), or from note fields.
- b - No dates given; B.C. date involved
Each character position in
fields 008/07-10 and 008/11-14 contains a blank (#).
- c - Serial item currently published
008/07-10 contain the beginning
date of publication; 008/11-14 contain 9999.
- d - Serial item ceased publication
008/07-10 contain the beginning
date of publication; 008/11-14 contain the ending date of
publication.
- e - Detailed date
008/07-10 contain the year and 008/11-14 contain
the month and day, recorded in the pattern mmdd.
- i - Inclusive dates of collection
- k - Range of years of bulk of collection
- m - Multiple dates
008/07-10 usually contain the beginning date and
008/11-14 the ending date.
- n - Dates unknown
Indicates that the dates appropriate for 008/07-10
and 008/11-14 are unknown (e.g., when no dates are given in field
260).
- p - Date of distribution/release/issue and production/recording session
when different
- q - Questionable date
008/07-10 contain the earliest possible date;
008/11-14 contain the latest possible date.
- r - Reprint/reissue date and original date
008/07-10 contain the date
of reproduction or reissue; 008/11-14 contain the date of the original, if
known; 008/11-14 contain code u ("uuuu"), if unknown.
- s - Single known date/probable date
008/07-10 contain the date;
008/11-14 contain blanks (####).
- t - Publication date and copyright date
- u - Serial status unknown
008/07-10 contain the beginning date of
publication; 008/11-14 contain code u ("uuuu").
- 07-10 - Date 1
The determination of dates for 008/07-10 is made
concurrently with the choice of code for 008/06 (Type of date/publication
status). The use of fill characters in 008/07-10, although possible, is
discouraged since the data in Date 1 is used for retrieval and duplicate
detection in many systems. When fill is used in 008/07-10, all four positions
must contain the fill character.
- # - Date element is not applicable
- u - Date element is totally or partially unknown
- 11-14 - Date 2
The determination of dates for 008/11-14 is made
concurrently with the choice of code for 008/06 (Type of date/publication
status). When fill is used in 008/11-14, all four positions must contain the
fill character.
- # - Date element is not applicable
- u - Date element is totally or partially unknown
- 15-17 - Place of publication, production, or execution
A two- or
three-character MARC code that indicates the place of publication, production,
or execution. The place code is an authoritative-agency data element. The
source of the code is MARC
Code List for Countries . Choice of a MARC code is generally related
to information in field 260 (Publication, Distribution, etc. (Imprint)). The
code recorded in 008/15-17 is used in conjunction with field 044 (Country of
Producer Code) when more than one code is appropriate to an item. The first
code in subfield $a of field 044 is recorded in 008/15-17. Three fill
characters (|||) may be used in place of a valid code, but their use in
008/15-17 is discouraged. The data in this field 008 data element is used for
retrieval and duplicate detection in many systems. When fill is used in
008/15-17, all three positions must contain the fill character.
- 35-37 - Language
A three-character MARC code that indicates the
language of the item. The source of the code is MARC Code List for Languages
. Choice of a MARC code is based on the predominant language of the item.
Three fill characters (|||) may also be used if no attempt is made to code
008/35-37.
- 38 - Modified record
A one-character code that indicates whether any
data in a bibliographic record is a modification of information that appeared
on the item being cataloged or that was intended to be included in the MARC
record. Codes are assigned a priority (recorded in the order of the following
list) that determines which code is input when more than one code applies to
the item.
- d - Dashed-on information omitted
- o - Completely romanized/printed cards romanized
- r - Completely romanized/printed cards in script
- s - Shortened
Some of the data has been omitted because the record
would have exceeded the maximum length allowed by a particular
system.
- x - Missing characters
Characters that could not be converted into
machine-readable form due to character set limitations are missing from the
record.
- 39 - Cataloging source
A one-character code that indicates the creator
of the original cataloging record. If the cataloging
source is known, it is identified in subfield $a of field 040
(Cataloging Source).
- # - National bibliographic agency
- c - Cooperative cataloging program
The creator of the bibliographic
data is a participant (other than a national bibliographic agency) in a
cooperative cataloging program.
- u - Unknown
An organization has transcribed a manual bibliographic
record from an unknown source.
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Character Positions
- 18-21 - Illustrations
Up to four one-character codes (recorded in
alphabetical order) that indicate the presence of types of illustrations in
the item. If fewer than four codes are assigned, the codes are left justified
and each unused position contains a blank (#).
- m - Phonodisc, phonowire, etc.
- 22 - Target audience
A one-character code that indicates the audience
for which the item is intended.
- # - Unknown or not specified
- c - Elementary and junior high
- d - Secondary (senior high)
- 23 - Form of item
A one-character code that indicates the form of
material for the item.
- # - None of the following
- r - Regular print reproduction
- 24-27 - Nature of contents
Up to four one-character codes (recorded in
alphabetical order) that indicate whether a significant part of the item is or
contains certain types of material. If fewer than four codes are assigned, the
codes are left justified and each unused position contains a blank (#).
- # - No specified nature of contents
- a - Abstracts/summaries
The item is or contains abstracts or
summaries of other publications.
- d - Dictionaries
This code is also used for a glossary or a
gazetteer.
- i - Indexes
The item is or contains an index to bibliographical
material other than itself.
- l - Legislation
The item is or contains full or partial texts of
enactments of legislative bodies or texts of rules and regulations issued by
executive or administrative agencies.
- m - Theses
Indicates that the item is a thesis, dissertation, or work
identified as having been created to satisfy the requirements for an
academic certification or degree.
- n - Surveys of literature in a subject area
The item is or contains
authored surveys that summarize what has been published about a
subject.
- o - Reviews
The item is or contains critical reviews of published or
performed works.
- v - Legal cases and case notes
- w - Law reports and digests
- z - Treaties
Indicates that the item is a treaty or accord negotiated
between two or more parties to settle a disagreement, establish a
relationship, grant rights, etc.
- 28 - Government publication
A one-character code that indicates whether
the item is published or produced by or for a government agency, and, if so,
the jurisdictional level of the agency.
- # - Not a government publication
- a - Autonomous or semi-autonomous component
- i - International intergovernmental
- o - Government publication--level undetermined
- s - State, provincial, territorial, dependent, etc.
- u - Unknown if item is government publication
- 29 - Conference publication
A one-character code that indicates whether
the item consists of the proceedings, reports, or summaries of a conference.
- 0 - Not a conference publication
- 1 - Conference publication
- 30 - Festschrift
A one-character code that indicates whether the item
is a festschrift.
- 31 - Index
A one-character code that indicates whether the item
includes an index to its own contents.
- 32 - Undefined
Contains a blank (#) or fill character (|)
- 33 - Literary form
Indicates the literary form of an item. Numeric
codes 0 and 1 provide a generic identification of whether or not the item is a
work of fiction. Alphabetic codes may be used to identify specific literary
forms.
- 0 - Not fiction (not further specified)
- 1 - Fiction (not further specified)
- h - Humor, satires, etc.
Indicates that the item is a humorous work,
satire, or of a similar literary form.
- i - Letters
Indicates that the item is a single letter or collection
of correspondence.
- j - Short stories
Indicates that the item is a short story or
collection of short stories.
- m - Mixed forms
Indicates that the items represents a variety of
literary forms (e.g., poetry and short stories).
- 34 - Biography
A one-character code that indicates whether the item
contains biographical material, and, if so, what the biographical
characteristics are.
- # - No biographical material
- d - Contains biographical information
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Character Positions
- 18-21 - Undefined
Each contains a blank (#) or fill character (|)
- 22 - Target audience
A one-character code that indicates the audience
for which the item (primarily educational computer file material) is intended.
- # - Unknown or not specified
- b - Primary
Kindergarten through the third grade.
- c - Elementary and junior high
- d - Secondary (senior high)
- 23-25 - Undefined
Each contains a blank (#) or fill character (|)
- 26 - Type of computer file
A one-character code that indicates the type
of computer file described in the bibliographic record.
- c - Representational
Pictorial or graphic information that can be
manipulated in conjunction with other types of files to produce graphic
patterns that can be used to interpret and give meaning to the
information.
- i - Interactive multimedia
- j - Online system or service
- 27 - Undefined
Contains a blank (#) or fill character (|)
- 28 - Government publication
A one-character code that indicates whether
the computer file is published or produced by or for a government agency, and,
if so, the jurisdictional level of the agency.
- # - Not a government publication
- a - Autonomous or semi-autonomous component
- i - International intergovernmental
- o - Government publication--level undetermined
- s - State, provincial, territorial, dependent, etc.
- u - Unknown if item is government publication
- 29-34 - Undefined
Each contains a blank (#) or fill character
(|)
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Character Positions
- 18-21 - Relief
Up to four one-character codes that indicate the relief
type specified on the item. Codes are recorded in order of their importance to
the described item. If fewer than four codes are assigned, the codes are left
justified and each unused position contains a blank (#).
- c - Gradient and bathymetric tints
- 22-23 - Projection
A two-character code that indicates the projection
used in producing the item.
- ## - Projection not specified
- ac - Lambert's azimuthal equal area
- ae - Azimuthal equidistant
- ag - General vertical near-sided
- am - Modified stereographic for Alaska
- an - Chamberlin trimetric
- au - Azimuthal, specific type unknown
- bb - Goode's homolographic
- bc - Lambert's cylindrical equal area
- bs - Space oblique Mercator
- bu - Cylindrical, specific type unknown
- cc - Lambert's conformal conic
- cu - Conic, specific type unknown
- de - Miller's bipolar oblique conformal conic
- 24 - Undefined
Each contains a blank (#) or fill character (|)
- 25 - Type of cartographic material
A one-character code that indicates
the type of nonbook cartographic item described in the bibliographic record.
- b - Map series
A number of related but physically separate and
bibliographically distinct cartographic units intended by the producer or
issuing body to form a single group.
- c - Map serial
A cartographic publication issued in successive parts
bearing numerical or chronological designations and intended to be continued
indefinitely.
- f - Separate map supplement to another work
- g - Map bound as part of another work
- 26-27 - Undefined
Each contains a blank (#) or fill character (|)
- 28 - Government publication
A one-character code that indicates whether
the item is published or produced by or for a government agency, and, if so,
the jurisdictional level of the agency.
- # - Not a government publication
- a - Autonomous or semi-autonomous component
- i - International intergovernmental
- o - Government publication--level undetermined
- s - State, provincial, territorial, dependent, etc.
- u - Unknown if item is government publication
- 29 - Form of item
A one-character code that indicates the form of
material for the item.
- # - None of the following
- r - Regular print reproduction
Eye-readable print.
- 30 - Undefined
Contains a blank (#) or fill character (|)
- 31 - Index
A one-character code that indicates whether the item or
accompanying material includes a location index or gazetteer.
- 32 - Undefined
Contains a blank (#) or fill character (|)
- 33-34 - Special format characteristics
Up to two one-character codes
that indicate the special format characteristics of the map. Codes are
recorded in order of their importance to the described item. If only one code
is assigned, it is left justified and the unused position contains a blank
(#).
- # - No specified special format characteristics
- j - Picture card, post card
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Character Positions
- 18-19 - Form of composition
A two-character code that indicates the
form of composition. The codes are based on Library of Congress subject
headings. If more than one code is appropriate, the code mu (Multiple
forms) is used in 008/18-19 and all appropriate specific codes are given in
field 047 (Form of Composition).
- cb - Chants, Other religions
- cp - Chansons, polyphonic
- df - Dance forms
Separate codes are defined for mazurkas, minuets,
pavans, polonaises, and waltzes.
- dv - Divertimentos, serenades, cassations, divertissements,
notturni
- mc - Musical revues and comedies
- mp - Motion picture music
- st - Studies and exercises
- 20 - Format of music
A one-character code that indicates the format of
a musical composition.
- b - Full score, miniature or study size
- c - Accompaniment reduced for keyboard
- e - Condensed score or piano-conductor score
- m - Multiple score formats
- 21 - Undefined
Contains a blank (#) or fill character (|)
- 22 - Target audience
Indicates the audience for
which the item is intended.
- # - Unknown or not specified
- c - Elementary and junior high
- d - Secondary (senior high)
- 23 - Form of item
A one-character code that indicates the form of
material for the item being described.
- # - None of the following
- r - Regular print reproduction
Eye-readable print.
- 24-29 - Accompanying matter
Up to six one-character codes (recorded in
alphabetical order) that indicate the contents of program notes and other
accompanying material for the sound recording, manuscript notated music, or notated
music. If fewer than six codes are assigned, the codes are left justified and
each unused position contains a blank (#).
- # - No accompanying matter
- e - Biography of composer or author
- f - Biography of performer or history of ensemble
- g - Technical and/or historical information on instruments
- h - Technical information on music
- i - Historical information
- k - Ethnological information
- r - Instructional materials
- 30-31 - Literary text for sound recordings
Up to two one-character
codes (recorded in the order of the following list) that indicate the type of
literary text contained in a nonmusical sound
recording. If only one code is assigned, it is left justified and the unused
position contains a blank (#).
- # - Item is a musical sound recording
- c - Conference proceedings
- 32-34 - Undefined
Each contains a blank (#) or fill character
(|)
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Character Positions
- 18 - Frequency
A one-character code that indicates the frequency of
an item; used in conjunction with 008/19
(Regularity).
- # - No determinable frequency
Frequency is intentionally
irregular.
- b - Bimonthly
Includes 6, 7, or 8 numbers a year.
- f - Semiannual
Includes 2 numbers a year.
- m - Monthly
Includes 9, 10, 11, or 12 numbers a year.
- q - Quarterly
Includes 4 numbers a year.
- 19 - Regularity
A one-character code that indicates the intended
regularity of an item; used in conjunction with
008/18 (Frequency).
- n - Normalized irregular
Predictable irregularity pattern.
- x - Completely irregular
The frequency is known to be intentionally
irregular (008/18, code #) or the frequency is expressed on the item as
numbers per year.
- 20 - ISSN center
A one-character code that indicates the ISSN center
responsible for assigning and maintaining certain data related to an item.
- # - No ISSN center code assigned
Used by U.S. organizations other
than CONSER participants and the National Serials Data Program
(NSDP).
- 0 - International Center
The ISSN center is in Paris, France.
- 1 - United States
The United States National Serials Data
Program.
- 4 - Canada
The ISSN Canada.
- 21 - Type of continuing resource
A
one-character code that indicates the type of continuing
resource.
- # - None of the following
This code is also used for yearbooks and
annual reports.
- 22 - Form of original item
A one-character code that indicates the form
of material in which an item was originally
published.
- # - None of the following
- 23 - Form of item
A one-character code that indicates the form of
material for the item being described.
- # - None of the following
- r - Regular print reproduction
Eye-readable print.
- 24 - Nature of entire work
A one-character code that indicates the
nature of an item if it consists entirely of a
certain type of material. If more than one code is applicable, 008/24 contains
a blank (#) and up to three codes may be recorded
in 008/25-27 (Nature of contents).
- # - No specified nature of entire work
- a - Abstracts/summaries
The item consists of abstracts or summaries
of other publications.
- d - Dictionaries
This code is also used for a glossary or a
gazetteer.
- i - Indexes
The item consists of an index to bibliographical material
other than itself.
- l - Legislation
The item consists of full or partial texts of
enactments of legislative bodies or texts of rules and regulations issued by
executive or administrative agencies.
- m - Theses
Indicates that the item is a thesis, dissertation, or work
identified as having been created to satisfy the requirements for an
academic certification or degree.
- n - Surveys of literature in a subject area
The item is or contains
authored surveys that summarize what has been published about a
subject.
- o - Reviews
The item consists of critical reviews of published or
performed works.
- v - Legal cases and case notes
- w - Law reports and digests
- z - Treaties
Indicates that the item is a treaty or accord negotiated
between two or more parties to settle a disagreement, establish a
relationship, grant rights, etc.
- 25-27 - Nature of contents
Up to three one-character codes (recorded in
alphabetical order) that indicate that a work
contains certain types of materials. If fewer than three codes are assigned,
the codes are left justified and each unused position contains a blank (#).
- # - No specified nature of contents
- a - Abstracts/summaries
The item consists of abstracts or summaries
of other publications.
- d - Dictionaries
This code is also used for a glossary or a
gazetteer.
- i - Indexes
The item consists of an index to bibliographical material
other than itself.
- l - Legislation
The item consists of full or partial texts of
enactments of legislative bodies or texts of rules and regulations issued by
executive or administrative agencies.
- m - Theses
Indicates that the item is a thesis, dissertation, or work
identified as having been created to satisfy the requirements for an
academic certification or degree.
- n - Surveys of literature in a subject area
The item is or contains
authored surveys that summarize what has been published about a
subject
- o - Reviews
The item consists of critical reviews of published or
performed works.
- v - Legal cases and case notes
- w - Law reports and digests
- z - Treaties
Indicates that the item is a treaty or accord negotiated
between two or more parties to settle a disagreement, establish a
relationship, grant rights, etc.
- 28 - Government publication
A one-character code that indicates whether
an item is published or produced by or for a
government agency, and, if so, the jurisdictional level of the agency.
- # - Not a government publication
- a - Autonomous or semi-autonomous component
- i - International intergovernmental
- o - Government publication--level undetermined
- s - State, provincial, territorial, dependent, etc.
- u - Unknown if item is government publication
- 29 - Conference publication
A one-character code that indicates whether
an item consists of the proceedings, reports, or
summaries of a conference.
- 0 - Not a conference publication
- 1 - Conference publication
- 30-32 - Undefined
Each contains a blank (#) or fill character (|)
- 33 - Original alphabet or script of title
A one-character code that
indicates the original alphabet or script of the language of the title on the
source item upon which the key title (field 222) is based.
- # - No alphabet or script given/no key title
This code may relate to
the title proper in field 245 when no key title is present.
- a - Basic roman
Includes no diacritics or special characters.
- b - Extended roman
Includes diacritics and special
characters.
- z - Other
Includes instances of a title that incorporates words from
more than one alphabet or script.
- 34 - Entry convention
A one-character code
that indicates whether an item was cataloged
according to successive entry, latest entry or integrated
entry cataloging conventions.
- 0 - Successive entry
A new bibliographic record is created each time
a title changes or a corporate body used as a main entry or uniform title
qualifier changes. The earlier or later title or author/title is recorded in
a linking 780/785 field in each record.
- 1 - Latest entry
The item is cataloged under its most recent title or
issuing body (pre-AACR cataloging rules). All former titles and/or issuing
bodies are given in notes (fields 247, 547, and 550).
- 2 - Integrated entry
A record is cataloged under
its latest (most recent) title or issuing body. It is used for integrating
resources and electronic serials that do not retain their earlier
titles.
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Character Positions
- 18-20 - Running time for motion pictures and videorecordings
A
three-digit number that indicates the total running time of the motion picture
or videorecording. The number is right justified and each unused position
contains a zero.
- 000 - Running time exceeds three characters
- --- - Running time unknown
- 21 - Undefined
Contains a blank (#) or fill character (|)
- 22 - Target audience
A one-character code that indicates the audience
for which the item (primarily educational audiovisual material) is intended.
- # - Unknown or not specified
- b - Primary
Kindergarten through the third grade.
- c - Elementary and junior high
- d - Secondary (senior high)
- 23-27 - Undefined
Each contains a blank (#) or fill character (|)
- 28 - Government publication
A one-character code that indicates whether
the item is published or produced by or for a government agency, and, if so,
the jurisdictional level of the agency.
- # - Not a government publication
- a - Autonomous or semi-autonomous component
- i - International intergovernmental
- o - Government publication--level undetermined
- s - State, provincial, territorial, dependent, etc.
- u - Unknown if item is government publication
- 29 - Form of item
A one-character code that indicates the form of
material for the item.
- # - None of the following
- r - Regular print reproduction
Eye-readable print.
- 30-32 - Undefined
Each contains a blank (#) or fill character (|)
- 33 - Type of visual material
A one-character code that indicates the
type of visual material item.
- b - Kit
An item that contains a mixture of components from two or
more categories, no one of which is the predominant constituent of the
item.
- 34 - Technique
A one-character code that indicates the technique used
in creating motion in the motion picture or videorecording.
- c - Animation and live action
- n - Not applicable
Item is not a motion picture or a
videorecording.
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Character Positions
- 18-22 - Undefined
Each contains a blank (#) or fill character (|)
- 23 - Form of item
A one-character code that indicates the form of
material for the item.
- # - None of the following
- r - Regular print reproduction
Eye-readable print.
- 24-34 - Undefined
Each contains a blank (#) or fill character
(|)
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