Series Added Entry – MARC field 830

Q:  MARC field 830 mentions “series added entry.”  Is this field required if the series is an added entry? A:  830 is required if the established heading in the AF is different from what you find on the source. Transcribe the series title as found on the source in the 490 tag. Then search the [...]

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RDA Wording for Color Illustrations

Q:  In the 300 tag, is there a specific RDA wording for color illustrations? A:  Yes, you can find something in RDA on color illustrations. One way that I find things is to use the keyword search option. Just type in “color”.

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Anonymous Author

Q:  For the TOC, if a book is written by Anonymous, do we write it the same way we would any other author’s name? A:  Yes, this is the practice if it is written on the t.p as such.

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Bibliographical References Spread Out

Q:  With regard to the bibliographical references: Given that they’re spread through the book should we list page numbers for all the references, just for the ones at the end of the book, or simply leave the page numbers out of the note? A:  No, do not give page numbers if they are scattered throughout. [...]

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“End of Chapter Readings” in a Note?

Q:  I am still confused about the ‘End of Chapter Suggested Readings’. Would it be in a note or would we leave it out? A:  End of chapter readings are references. Any reference used in writing the book deserves a note.

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Chapter Numbers in TOC Note

Q:  Is there a rule about including chapter numbers in the TOC note? In AACR2, the partial example excludes the chapter numbers but the second example includes them. Is this cataloger preference? A:  You can include chapter number if you want, not necessary though. It is a cataloger preference issue.

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What Goes in a 500 Note?

Q:  Is it totally up to the cataloger what goes in a 500 note? Relatively arbitrarily, or whatever we find important? For example, do we include dedication or translators? A:  More or less. The notes are flexible in wording and use. The common ones are the ones I require. LC will always include these notes. [...]

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Appendices and Notes in TOC?

Q:  Are appendices and notes included on TOC? A:  Those are not necessary, although you do see catalogers adding them.

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Deleting Unused Fields

Q:  Can we delete fields that we don’t use for a record? A:  Yes, that is the best method and leaves for a much shorter record (fits one page) and better for me to print out. Since the MARC template is a word doc, it is easy to delete and add rows.

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Price Listed, But No ISBN

Q.  If you don’t have an ISBN, but you do have a price, do you put just the price in the 020 tag? A.  If there is no ISBN, just skip the field. You can delete the 020 or leave it blank.

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Use of Brackets in MARC Fields

Q.  Should I put “edited by” in brackets, since it’s not on the title page, but on the cover, or should I just leave it off? Is this the correct protocol for something not found on the chief source? A.  It would be ok, but not necessary. Yes, you are correct. Anything taken outside the [...]

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504 Tag – Scans vs. OCLC Record

Q. Regarding 5xx tags, if the OCLC record doesn’t indicate an index, should I add that to the bibliographic materials 504 tag, or make it a separate 500 tag? A. If you find that the scans indicate an index, then go with what is on the scans. They are more accurate than the records. You [...]

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What to Include in Partial Notes

Q.  I am confused about partial content notes. When we only do partial, is it completely up to us what we include? If we just pull a few of the contents, is that fine, or should we mention certain ones (for example, more famous ones, or the first one from each section)?  A.  Yes, if [...]

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250 Tag – Edition Statement Not in Item

Q.  I had a question about the edition tag — if an item has wording that implies that a book is a first edition but doesn’t flat-out say, “First Edition,” would we include that in the record? Or would we leave it blank because no formal edition statement was made on the item? A.  Do [...]

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Is the 520 (Summary) Field Required?

Q.  Are the only 5XX tags we have to do are the 500, 504 and 505?  Is the 520 (summary) also required, or can we leave it off? A.  If you want to add a summary note, that is ok. Just be aware that LC generally adds summary notes to juvenile literature only.

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504 Field for Index and Bibliographical References

Q.  Under the 504 if we transcribe: 504 __ Includes bibliographical references and index, do we still do a 500__ Includes index ? A.  Yes, use a 504 for the combined note for index and bibliography. No need to add the 500 since it is covered in the 504. Catalogers are NEVER redundant.

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5XX Tags – What are General Notes?

Q.  I’m confused about what information goes in a 500 tag. I know it’s for general notes, but what is a general note? A.  500 tags contain notes. Mandatory notes for your records are any Content notes to include 500 __ Includes index. 504 __ Includes bibliographical references. 505 0_ Chapter title — Chapter title. [...]

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First Indicator for Exercise 2?

Q.   In Exercise 2, should we put “(first indicator is intentionally left blank)” in our 245 field, or is that understood, since you stated that?  A.  Just use an underscore to represent the indicator. You will be filling it in for Exercise 3. Or just use the space key, i.e., 245 _0 or 245 4 [...]

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Is it necessary to use each variable field?

Q. What if ISBD areas are not present in the item?  Do we need to use each variable data field for each record on the MARC work form? A. It depends. Some elements  of the record are mandatory, such as the info in the 245 (title) and the 260 while others are not such as [...]

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Manditory/Optional Fields/Areas

Q. Do we need to use each variable data field for each record on the MARC work form? A. It depends. Some elements are mandatory, such as the info in the 245, 260, etc. If it is not mandatory, then you can skip or delete it.

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ISBN a Mandatory Field?

Q. There is no ISBN on the source or in the record. Is this a mandatory field? A. If you cannot find one it may be because of the age of the publication. You can just delete this tag. Summers was published right around the time they began to add ISBNs so probably none exists.

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5XX

Q. When it says 5xx you just mean the entire field of 500′s like 500, 504, etc. There shouldn’t be a field actually titled 5XX right? The “X” is just to be replaced with other numbers? A. 5XX refers to any 500 tag. There is no actual 5xx tag. You are right it is either [...]

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Dates & Variable and Fixed Fields

Q. So if the OCLC gives both a publication date and a copyright date, we just need to put the publication date…even in the variable field? A. Yes, you would need to edit the record for the publication date only. And the fixed field area as well.

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Punctuation, space dash space, Part II

Q. Do you mind if we use the card catalog space dash space? A. I will not take off if I see the dashes, but the are NOT necessary.

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Punctuation, space dash space?

Q. To clarify from the email questions, the only time we need to include the space dash space is in the card format, but not for exercise 1. Correct? A. Correct. You need final punctuation, not the space dash space. Follow up: Q. So does that mean in ex. 1 that we should start a [...]

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Tag Order (650/651)

Q. Is it possible to have a 651 tag before a 650 tag if the 651 is a greater portion of the book? Or is it always 650, then 651? A. Generally 651 tags should follow 650 tags, but that’s not a hard rule. If the bulk of the book is about the place, then [...]

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Ordering Tags (650 tags)

Q. Is there a standard way to order tags if you have two tags of same type? For example, two 650 tags….does that matter? A. Yes, you should assign the first 650 tag for what the greater portion of the book is about. If equal then it does not matter.

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Do we need to include 246 entries in Exercise 2?

Q. Do we need to include 246 entries in exercise 2? A. No, not for exercise 2.

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Where can one find out if a tag is repeatable?

Q. Where can we find out if a tag is repeatable? A. You can find this information at the following URL http://www.oclc.org/bibformats/ .  The link is in Oncourse as well. I answer about 98% of all questions on MARC from this site. The 490 tag is repeatable. So if you have multiple series you will [...]

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Access Point Fields to Fill In (100 & 700)

Q. So, for access, what are all the possible fields that will be need to be filling in? 100, 700? A. Yes, you must decide on main and added entries if any.  You create the statement of responsibility and step back from it to make this decision.  You must think about who is responsible for [...]

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Exercise 2 vs. Exercise 3 Added Entry & Access Point Requirements

Q. Since we’re still learning about how added entries and access points work, are the indicators needed for Exercise 2? A. For exercise 2 since we have not covered access points, you do not even have to add 1XX or 7XX tags to the records, so you don’t have to worry about them.  If you [...]

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Country Abbreviations in Variable Fields vs in the “Ctry” Fixed Field

Q. Deciding how to abbreviate Israel I checked the Cataloging Calculator first under the AACR2 general rules and found no match.  Under country codes it comes up ‘is’  How do I determine which one to follow? A. Are you looking for an AACR2 abbreviation for the 260 field for larger jurisdiction, if not found, it [...]

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Formatting Lengthy Fields

Q. If we have a field running more than one line, especially in the TOC, would you prefer individual lines/cells (but same tag) for each line or the entire TOC together in one cell? A. Enter into one cell and let it wrap. If it is extremely lengthy TOC, you can add a second 505.

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Multiple Series Statements & Field 490 (Bosmajian)

Q. In the Bosmajian book, there are two series. In the MARC record, would it be more appropriate to use a separate line for the individual series (and add one more 490 tag) or put the two series together in one line? A. Yes, you have to add two 490 tags if you have two [...]

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Country/City Abbrieviations

Q. How do you abbreviate Jerusalem for the fixed and variable fields? I checked in Cataloger’s Calculator, but no luck there. A. You need to use the larger jurisdiction. You are searching the city. You need to look at Israel.

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Formatting, Post 2 – Missing Areas

Q. If you cannot find an area, for example the edition, what do you do? Do you skip a line to indicate there is not one available or do  you just proceed? For example, for a couple of the assignments I can’t find an edition or any series info. So do I just leave a [...]

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