This field contains 40 character positions (00-39) that provide coded information about an item.
For fuller specifications of this field, see the MARC 21 documentation. The following are the codes to enter in the Books format (which is the standard for a manuscript volume or item). If you have a form other than Books, then character positions 18-34 will be different. Please refer to the MARC 21 documentation for other material forms.
The MARC 21 standard for a “full level” record requires certain of these character positions (or bytes) to be filled in. The entry for these may be blank, but it cannot be a fill character ( | ). These positions are shown in bold below.
(00-05) Date entered on file (system-supplied)
(06) Type of date
b BCE date involved (use 046 field)
s single known or probable date
m multiple dates. Use this for a work that is executed over a period of time that can be specified. This would include a manuscript that contains annotations or additions made after its first copying.
n date unknown (DACS asks for you to attempt to date, even with a broad range; consult before using)
q questionable date. Use this for any approximate date range, when exact date is unclear.
(07-10) Date 1
(11-14) Date 2 (if needed)
The value in (06) and the date(s) in (07-10) and (11-14) are determined by the date in the the $$f subfield of the 245 field. Date 2 is entered only if you have entered “i,” “m,” or “q” in (06). Enter “u” for uncertain digits in dates. Also use “u” as shown below for an undated item.
examples:
245 $$f (06) (07-10) (11-14)
100 BCE-100 CE b blank blank (add 046 for date)
undated n uuuu uuuu
1892 s 1892 ####
1848, 1892-1896 m 1848 1896 (for an item dated 1848, then annotated 1892-1896; there would also be a 500 note explaining the dates)
probably 1892 s 1892 ####
circa 1892 s 1892 ####
1892 and undated s 1892 ####
after 1875 s 1875 ####
between 1900 and 1916 q 1900 1916
before 1916 s 1916 ####
circa 1640-1649 q 1640 1649
circa 1600-1699 q 1600 1699
(15-17) Place of publication, production, or execution.
If the place of writing of the manuscript is explicitly stated, then fill this in using the MARC code list for countries, or if there was more than one place, use code “vp” ( for various places), or the code “xx^” (“no place, unknown or undetermined”). If you are making a 500 note on place of writing, be sure the coding here agrees.
(18-21) Illustrations #### no attempt to code (i.e., 4 fill characters)
(22) Target audience # unknown or not specified
(23) Form of item # unless the item is a microform, in which case consult MARC21 for coding
(24-27) Nature of contents #### no attempt to code (i.e., 4 fill characters)
(28) Government publication # not a government publication
(29) Conference publication # no attempt to code
(30) Festschrift # no attempt to code
(31) Index # no attempt to code
(32) Undefined
(33) Literary form 0 not fiction (not further specified)
1 Fiction
d Dramas
e Essays
f Novels
h Humor, satires, etc.
i Letters
j Short stories
m Mixed forms
p Poetry
s Speeches
u Unknown
# no attempt to code
Notice that for some of these choices, there will be a corresponding 655 field.
(34) Biography blank no biographical material
a Autobiography
b Individual biography
c Collective biography
d Contains biographical information
# no attempt to code
Note: Many Houghton records have “|” in the (33) and (34) bytes with no attempt to code.
(35-37) Language
A 3-letter code for the main language of the item, for example:
eng English
grc ancient Greek
und undetermined
zxx no linguistic content
For a complete list of codes, see MARC.
(38) Modified record # Not modified
(39) Cataloging source d Other