524 Preferred citation of described materials

This field contains the format for how to cite the item. Displays as “Cite as”.

indicators:       no indicators, leave blank

subfields:        $$a - Preferred citation (NR)

punctuation:    This field ends with a full point.

Most of the time the contents of this field are simply the call number. If in doubt, consult the curator.  Omit the shelving prefix (i.e., "f", "pf", "b", etc.). Note the punctuation in the following.

examples:

524 __ MS Typ 507. Houghton Library, Harvard University.

524 __ MS Thr 553. Houghton Library, Harvard University.

Occasionally, single-item-like material is given a collection-level record, though no finding aid is made. (Usually these include a descriptive 505.) In this case, the preferred citation follows the collections standards, with the title of the piece followed by the call number.

example:

524 __ Locker-Lampson-Warburg-Grimson Album, 1552-1890 (MS Eng 870). Houghton Library, Harvard University.