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

V. Frequently Asked Questions

This section is dedicated to questions regarding cataloging and classification frequently asked by patrons, as well as those having to do with specific MARC 21 attributes. Please note that many libraries, especially academic ones, employ different systems for some of the issues raised in these questions, so the answers will be as broad-reaching as possible.
Special thanks to Frank Domizio, Cataloging Director at SUNY Purchase College for his contributions.

Why is there an "oversize" section, and what constitutes an oversized material?

Depending on the library, there may be an "oversize" section, featuring large books like art books. Oversized materials are any materials with dimensions of 31 cm. or over, according to the 300 field (physical descriptions). This can be either lengthwise, going along with the spine, or widthwise, going across from the spine. Oversized materials can be labled differently, but most libraries simply denote this with the word "oversize" at the top of the chosen call number.

What is the difference between circulating and non-circulating materials, like reference books?

Circulation status is determined by the 049 field, the "ZPM" holdings. Circulating materials, marked with "ZPMM" (for main), are capable of being checked out normally. These include most books and basic multimedia. Reference material, signified with "ZPMR", are usually expensive single volume works or multi-volume collections (like encyclopedias and serials) reserved for reference purposes only and can not be checked out of the library. They are often considered too valuable for the library to risk losing through normal circulation. Most libraries make older years or versions of some collection or serial types, like almanacs, available for circulation once the latest year or edition has been acquired.

What determines whether a series title goes in the 440 field or the 490 field?

As has been already discussed in Part II, the Series Fields deal with series names that have been either officially traced by the library catalog or those that either haven't been traced or traced differently. A fully traced series can be found in the catalog's authority file; for example, when using OCLC's WorldCat, the title of a traced series appears with the subfields $f, $t, and $s in its record. Titles that are not traced are that way either because they have not been submitted as a series to be traced under the given title, or because the title as seen in the work has been altered in a way significant enough to differ from the traced version. Traced titles go in the 440 field, while titles that do not show up in the authority file for either reason are seen in the 490 field.

How are call numbers created, and what are the standards?

Depending on the institution, the call number used for a given work may be from the Library of Congress, the Dewey Decimal System, or other specialized sources. LC and Dewey are most prominently featured in the U.S. in colleges and public libraries, respectively. All call numbers are created starting with the most basic of subjects (which can differ greatly from classification method to classification method), and adding more detailed information as desired. The actual tables themselves are very lengthy and complex - LC's tables are a multi-volume work on their own - and are far too complex to discuss here.
To subdivide call numbers even further, catalogers use "Cutter" numbers to include the author's name in some capacity. Starting with the first letter in the author's last name, numbers are added according to a table like LC's Cutter Table, as many as are needed to specify the author and make the number distinct.

Valid XHTML 1.0!