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Machine Readable Cataloging

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Definitions
What is MARC?
MARC is the acronym for MAchine Readable
Cataloging
What is a machine-readable cataloging
record?
"Machine-readable" means that one particular type of
machine, a computer, can read, interpret and
manipulate the data in the cataloging record.
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Definitions
MARC is an industry-wide standard for the
representation and communication of
bibliographic and related information in
machine readable form
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Importance of MARC
Because it is the standard for coding
bibliographic data for machine processing
Standard MARC records are
Predictable
Reliable
Less expensive than other options
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Importance of MARC
Standard MARC records enable libraries
to employ automated systems to manage operations
more efficiently
to share bibliographic resources, reduce duplication of
work, and thus lower costs
Standard MARC record ensure that
bibliographic (and related data) is compatible from one
automated system to another
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A Standard is a Standard
MARC21 - United States and Canada
UKMARC - United Kingdom
interMARC - France
NORMARC - Norway
SAMARC - South Africa
OCLC MARC, RLIN MARC
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Why one standard?
To foster communication of information and
data interchange.
The MARC standard also allows libraries to
replace one system with another with the
assurance that their data will still be
compatible.

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Development of MARC21
The original LC MARC format, developed by the Library of
Congress in 1960, evolved into USMARC
February 1997, The USMARC and CANMARC (developed by the
National Library of Canada in 1973) formats achieved alignment
October 1998, The LCs Network Development and MARC
Standards Office came up with the name MARC21 meaning
MARC for the 21
st
century
July 2002, the Agreement for the development and publication of
MARC21 format was signed by representatives of the National
Library of Congress, the National Library of Canada and the
British Library
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MARC-ISO2709 File Structure
ISO2709 is a standard format for
interchanging MARC data
01329cam a2200313 a
45000010008000000050017000080080041000250350021000669060045000879550125001320
10001700257020002500274020004400299040001800343042000900361050002400370082001
80039410000320041224500870044425000120053126000370054330000290058050000420060
9520022000651650003300871650001200904740003600916991006300952 3873627 1991110
6082810.9 891101s1990 maua j 000 0 eng 9(DLC) 89048230
a7 bcbc corignew d1 eocip f19 gy-gencatlg apc14 to he00 11-01-89; he06
11-01-89; he00 11-03-89; fa00 11-06-89; fa05 11-22-89; he03 11-28-89; CIP
ver. he06 08-08-90 a 89048230 a0316107514 : c$12.95 a0316107506
(pbk.) : c$5.95 ($6.95 Can.) aDLC cDLC dDLC alcac 00 aGV943.25 b.B74
1990 00 a796.334/2 220 1 aBrenner, Richard J., d1941- 10 aMake the
team. pSoccer : ba heads up guide to super soccer! / cRichard J. Brenner.
a1st ed. aBoston : bLittle, Brown, cc1990. a127 p. : bill. ; c19 cm.
a"A Sports illustrated for kids book." aInstructions for improving soccer
skills. Discusses dribbling, heading, playmaking, defense, conditioning,
mental attitude, how to handle problems with coaches, parents, and other
players, and the history of soccer. 0 aSoccer xJuvenile literature.
1 aSoccer. 0 aHeads up guide to super soccer. bc-GenColl hGV943.25 i.B74
1990 p0002016704A tCopy 1 wBOOKS
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MARC Record Structure
Leader
Store important information about the MARC record
itself
Each record begins with a leader, which is a 24-
character fixed field containing information for the
processing of the record

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MARC Record Structure
Directory
An index to the location of variable fields (control and
data) within a record
Start at position 24
Each corresponds to one MARC field
Each entry includes
Tag : 3 characters
Field length : 4 characters (including FT)
Starting positions : 5 characters

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MARC Record Structure
Control fields
Tags beginning with two zeroes
Store fixed-length data
Position of codes determines meaning
Do not have indicators
Converts into 008 field when exported
001-008
001 Control number
003 Control number identifier
005 Date and time of latest transaction
008 Fixed-length data element

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MARC Record Structure
Variable fields (Data fields)
Begin with tag
Store variable-length data
2 indicator positions
Subfields ($a, $b, $c, etc.)
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Understanding a MARC Record
Leader 01041cam 2200265 a 4500
Control No. 001 ###89048230 /AC/r91
Control No. ID 003 DLC
DTLT 005 19911106082810.9
Fixed Data 008 891101s1990 maua j 001 0 eng
LCCN 010 ## $a ###89048230 /AC/r91
ISBN 020 ## $a 0316107514 :
$c $12.95
ISBN 020 ## $a 0316107506 (pbk.) :
$c $5.95 ($6.95 Can.)
Title 245 10 $a Make the team.
$p Soccer :
$b a heads up guide to super soccer! /
$c Richard J. Brenner.
TAG INDICATOR SUBFIELD
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MARC Tag Overview
0XX Control information, numbers, code
1XX Main entry
2XX Titles, edition, imprint, etc.
3XX Physical description, etc.
4XX Series statements
5XX Notes
6XX Subject headings
7XX Other added entries and linking entries
8XX Series added entries
9XX Locally defined
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MARC Tag Commonalities
X00 Personal name heading
X10 Corporate name heading
X11 Meeting (conference) name heading
X30 Uniform title heading
where X = 1, 6, 7, or 8
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Local Data Fields
049 Local holdings
09X Local call number fields
59X Local notes
69X Local subject headings
9XX Local information and processing fields
Exception: 490 series statement
MARC tags containing 9 are local data fields
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Commonly used MARC Fields
020 ISBN
$a ISBN
$c terms of availability
050 Library of Congress call number
$a classification number
$b item number
082 Dewey Decimal Classification call
number
$a classification number
$b item number
$2 edition number
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Commonly used MARC Fields
100 Personal name - main entry
1
st
indicator 0 = forename, 1 = surname
$a personal name
$d date associated with name (year of birth)
$e relator term
$q fuller form of name
$u affiliation
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Commonly used MARC Fields
245 Title Information
1
st
indicator 0 no title added entry, 1 title added entry
2
nd
indicator number of non-filing characters
$a title proper
$b remainder of title, subtitle
$c remainder of title page/statement of responsibility
$f inclusive date
$h medium
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Commonly used MARC Fields
250 Edition Statement
$a edition
$b remainder of edition statement
260 Publication information
$a place of publication
$b name of publisher
$c date of publication

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Commonly used MARC Fields
300 Physical description
$a number of pages
$b usually illustration information
$c dimension
$e accompanying materials
440 Series statement/added entry
2
nd
indicator = no. of non-filing characters
$a title
$n number of part/section of work
$p name of part/section of work
$v volume number
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Commonly used MARC Fields
500 General note
504 Bibliography note
505 Formatted contents note
520 Summary, abstract, etc.
650 Subject - Topical term
$a Topical term
$v Form subdivision
$x General subdivision
$y Chronological subdivision
$z Geographic subdivision
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Commonly used MARC Fields
110 Corporate body - main entry
111 Meeting name - main entry
600 Subject - personal name
651 Subject - geographic name
700 Personal name - added entry
710 Corporate body - added entry
711 Meeting name - added entry
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MARC Record is a Machine Readable
Cataloging record
Leader 01041cam 2200265 a 4500
Control No. 001 ###89048230 /AC/r91
Control No. ID 003 DLC
DTLT 005 19911106082810.9
Fixed Data 008 891101s1990 maua j 001 0 eng
LCCN 010 ## $a ###89048230 /AC/r91
ISBN 020 ## $a 0316107514 :
$c $12.95
ISBN 020 ## $a 0316107506 (pbk.) :
$c $5.95 ($6.95 Can.)
Cat. Source 040 ## $a DLC
$c DLC
$d DLC
LC Call No. 050 00 $a GV943.25
$b .B74 1990
Dewey No. 082 00 $a 796.334/2
$2 20
ME:Pers Name 100 1# $a Brenner, Richard J.,
$d 1941-
Title 245 10 $a Make the team.
$p Soccer :
$b a heads up guide to super soccer! /
$c Richard J. Brenner.
Variant Title 246 30 $a Heads up guide to super soccer
Edition 250 ## $a 1st ed.
Publication 260 ## $a Boston :
$b Little, Brown,
$c c1990.
Phys Desc 300 ## $a 127 p. :
$b ill. ;
$c 19 cm.
Note: General 500 ## $a "A Sports illustrated for kids book."
Note: Summary 520 ## $a Instructions for improving soccer
skills. Discusses dribbling, heading,
playmaking, defense, conditioning,
mental attitude, how to handle
problems with coaches, parents,
and other players, and the history
of soccer.
Subj: Topical 650 #0 $a Soccer
$v Juvenile literature.
Subj: Topical 650 #1 $a Soccer.


This MARC format can be interpreted to...

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this simple Card Catalog output
GV943 Brenner, Richard J., 1941-
. 25 Make the team. Soccer : a heads up guide to super
. B74 soccer! / Richard J. Brenner. -- 1st ed. -- Boston :
1990 Little, Brown, c1990.
127 p. : ill. ; 19 cm.
"A Sports illustrated for kids book."
Summary: Instructions for improving soccer skills.
Discusses
dribbling, heading, playmaking, defense, conditioning, mental
attitude, how to handle problems with coaches, parents, and
other players, and the history of soccer.
ISBN 0316107514 : $12.95
1. Soccer -- Juvenile literature. 2. Soccer. II. Title: Heads
up
guide to super soccer. II. Title.
Dewey Class no.: 796.334/2 -- dc 20 89-48230/AC/r91
MARC
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Common Cataloging Errors
Incorrect indicator values
Use of the wrong indicator values can cause a system
to mis-index a term, particularly in the title and subject
areas.
Typographical errors
Misspelled word, especially at the beginning of an
indexed tag results if failed searches.
Not doing proper punctuation
These are signposts for your system. They are useful
for future database manipulation and conversion
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Common Cataloging Errors
Not knowing how a particular automation system
handles data
While automation systems may all use the MARC record, they each
handle it differently. You need to know what tags are indexed and what
searches retrieve that information. This leads us to our next common
error:
Adjusting cataloging so that it works in your
automation system
The temptation to modify cataloging information so that it is accessed
logically by the system is a dangerous path. While it may work
today, but if the software is modified or if you migrate to another
system, your records may not work properly or may be inaccessible,
forcing you to redo the records.

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Common Cataloging Errors
Failure to accurately code the fixed field area
(008)
Not coding information properly here results in failed detailed
searches, particularly when searching by year of publication,
genre, or target audience.
Use of non-standard subject headings
Resist the urge to create local subject headings, particularly if
they deviate from the controlled vocabulary you use (Sears,
LCSH, etc.) This causes problems with records imported
from vendors, from users who access your catalog via the
Internet, or from patrons confused by local use that deviates
from what they encounter at other libraries. Its also more
work for you.
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Common Cataloging Errors
Not practicing good authority control
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END