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Introduction; Content; Variable Field Blocks; Content Designation; Table of Contents (MARC Record Content); Table of Contents (Top)]
Authorities : A MARC Format is the source of most of the data in this set of tag charts, and should be consulted for fuller descriptions and explanations. These tag charts also include NOTIS specific leader data elements and NOTIS defined "local" fields, as well as details of specific Queen's University practices.
[Top; Table of Contents (MARC Record Content)]
Each MARC record contains certain elements.
- Fixed Fields
- The Fixed Fields are called this because they contain certain specific elements, which are represented by codes which are "fixed" in length. The Fixed Fields include the following:
- Leader
- The Leader is the first field of a MARC record. It contains the information required to allow for the machine processing of the record. In the NOTIS system, the information in this tag appears in a staff mode record with mnemonic labels as the first line of a bibliographic record.
- Directory
- The Directory represents a series of entries that contain the tag, length, and starting location of each variable field within a record. These entries are sequenced by tag in increasing numerical order. This information is available to the computer, and allows it to process the information, but does not normally appear to the ordinary library staff member.
- Control Field
- The only Control Field in the Authorities format is the 008 field. It contains a series of fixed-length data elements identified by their relative character position. In the NOTIS system, the information in these tags appear in a staff mode record with mnemonic labels. The 008 tag appears automatically in a new record, beginning with the second line.
- Variable Fields
- The variable fields are identified by a three-character numeric tag. Certain tags are required in every record. Others are optional. The mix of tags in any record reflects the information being recorded.
- Indicators
- In addition to the numeric tag number, these fields also include two indicator positions at the beginning of each field. The indicators may be represented by a blank character in one or both positions. The information in these two positions are interpreted independently (i.e. the value of the first position does not affect the value of the second position, and vice versa.)
An asterisk (*) preceding an indicator identifies the default value automatically supplied by the NOTIS program.
- Subfield Codes
- The variable fields will also contain one or more subfield codes. Each subfield code is represented by two elements--the subfield indicator (represented by "|" in the NOTIS system) and an alphanumeric character. The meaning of the alphanumeric character is dependent on the field, but parallel meanings are preserved whenever possible.
The first subfield code in variable fields need not be explicitly input if the first subfield is a |a. If, however, the first subfield is |w, or anything else other than |a, each subfield code must be explicitly input.
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The variable data fields are groups into blocks according to the first character of the field, which with some exceptions identifies the function of the data within the record.
| Tags | Description |
|---|
| 0XX | Control information, identification and classification numbers, etc. |
| 1XX | Authorized Headings |
| 2XX-3XX | "See" and "See also" reference notes which appear to the public |
| 4XX | "See" references |
| 5XX | "See also" references |
| 64X | Series treatment information |
| 66X-69X | Complex references and Notes |
| 7XX | Heading Linking Entries |
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Within the 1XX, 4XX, 5XX and 7XX blocks, certain parallels of content designation are usually preserved. The following meanings, with some exceptions, are given to the final two characters of the tag of fields.
| Tags | Content Designation |
|---|
| X00 | Personal names |
| X10 | Corporate names |
| X11 | Meeting names |
| X30 | Uniform titles |
| X50 | Topical terms |
| X51 | Geographic names |
| X80 | General subdivision |
| X81 | Geographic subdivision |
| X82 | Chronological subdivision |
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Page maintained by Elizabeth A. Read, readel@stauffer.queensu.ca. Created: 02/12/96 Updated: 08/01/1997