MARC 21 Concise Bibliographic: Leader and Directory

• LEADER
• DIRECTORY
  

LEADER

A fixed field that comprises the first 24 character positions (00-23) of each record and provides information for the processing of the record.

Information for Translators and Other Users
Items highlighted in red indicate changes made after the 1998 edition of the USMARC Concise Formats was published (This publication included the 1994 base text, along with Updates No. 1 (March 1995), No. 2 (March 1996) and No. 3 (July 1997) of the USMARC Format for Bibliographic Data).

Items highlighted in green indicate changes made to the online format only. These changes will be corrected in the 2001 printed edition of the MARC 21 Concise Formats (Available soon).

Character Positions

• 00-04 - Logical record length
  The computer-generated, five-character numeric string that specifies the length of the entire record. The number is right justified and each unused position contains a zero.
• 05 - Record status
  A one-character code that indicates the relation of the record to a file.
  • a - Increase in encoding level
    The Encoding level (Leader/17) of the record has been changed to a higher encoding level.
  • c - Corrected or revised
    A change other than in the Encoding level code has been made to the record.
  • d - Deleted
  • n - New
  • p - Increase in encoding level from prepublication
    The cataloging level of a prepublication record has changed because of the availability of the published item.
• 06 - Type of record
  A one-character code that indicates the characteristics of and defines the components of the record.
  • a - Language material
    This code is also used for microforms of language material.
  • c - Printed music
    This code is also used for microforms of printed music.
  • d - Manuscript music
    This code is also used for microforms of manuscript music.
  • e - Cartographic material
    This code is also used for microforms of printed maps.
  • f - Manuscript cartographic material
    This code is also used for microforms of manuscript maps.
  • g - Projected medium
    The described item is a motion picture, videorecording, filmstrip, slide, transparency, or material specifically designed for overhead projection.
  • i - Nonmusical sound recording
  • j - Musical sound recording
  • k - Two-dimensional nonprojectable graphic
    This code is used for items such as activity cards, charts, collages, computer graphics, drawings, duplication masters, flash cards, paintings, photonegatives, photoprints, pictures, postcards, posters, prints, spirit masters, study prints, technical drawings, transparency masters, photomechanical reproductions, and reproductions of any of these.
  • m - Computer file
    This code indicates that the content of the record is for the following classes of electronic resources: computer software (including programs, games, fonts), numeric data, computer-oriented multimedia, online systems or services. For these classes of materials, if there is a significant aspect that causes it to fall into another Leader/06 category, the code for that significant aspect is used instead of code m (e.g., vector data that is cartographic is not coded as numeric but cartographic). Other classes of electronic resources are coded for their most significant aspect (e.g., language material, graphic, cartographic material, sound, music, moving image). In case of doubt or if the most significant aspect cannot be determined, consider the item a computer file.
  • o - Kit
    The described item contains a mixture of components from two or more types of items, no one of which is the predominant constituent of the kit.
  • p - Mixed material
    Indicates that there are significant materials in two or more forms that are usually related by virtue of their having been accumulated by or about a person or body. Includes archival fonds and manuscript collections of mixed forms of materials, such as text, photographs, and sound recordings.
  • r - Three-dimensional artifact or naturally occurring object
    This code is used for such man-made objects as models, dioramas, games, puzzles, simulations, sculptures and other three-dimensional art works and their reproductions, exhibits, machines, clothing, toys, and stitchery. It also includes such naturally occurring objects as microscope specimens and other specimens mounted for viewing.
  • t - Manuscript language material
• 07 - Bibliographic level
  A one-character code that indicates the bibliographic level of the record.
  • a - Monographic component part
    A monographic bibliographic unit that is physically attached to or contained in another monographic unit such that the retrieval of the component part is dependent on the physical identification and location of the host item or container. The record contains fields that describe the component part and data that identify the Host Item Entry (field 773).
  • b - Serial component part
    A serial bibliographic unit that is physically attached to or contained in another serial unit such that the retrieval of the component part is dependent on the physical identification and location of the host item or container. The record contains fields that describe the component part and data that identify the Host Item Entry (field 773).
  • c - Collection
    A made-up multipart group of items that were not originally published, distributed, or produced together. The record describes units defined by common provenance or administrative convenience for which the record is intended as the most comprehensive in the system.
  • d - Subunit
    A part of a collection, especially an archival unit described collectively elsewhere in the system. The record contains fields that describe the subunit and data that identify the Host Item Entry (field 773).
  • m - Monograph/item
    An item either complete in one part or intended to be completed in a finite number of separate parts.
  • s - Serial
    An item issued in successive parts bearing numerical or chronological designations and intended to be continued indefinitely.
• 08 - Type of control
  • # - No specific type
  • a - Archival
• 09 - Character coding scheme
  A one-character code that identifies the character coding scheme used in the record.
  • # - MARC-8
  • a - UCS/Unicode
• 10 - Indicator count
  The computer-generated number 2 that indicates the number of character positions used for indicators in a variable data field.
• 11 - Subfield code count
  The computer-generated number 2 that indicates the number of character positions used for each subfield code in a variable data field.
• 12-16 - Base address of data
  The computer-generated, five-character numeric string that indicates the first character position of the first variable control field in a record. The number is right justified and each unused position contains a zero.
• 17 - Encoding level
  A one-character code that indicates the fullness of the bibliographic information and/or content designation of the MARC record.
  • # - Full level
    The most complete MARC level created from information derived from an inspection of the physical item.
  • 1 - Full level, material not examined
    The information used in creating the record is derived from an extant description of the item without reinspection of the physical item. This code is used primarily in the retrospective conversion of records when all of the information on the extant description is transcribed. Certain control field coding and other data elements are based only on explicit information in the description.
  • 2 - Less-than-full level, material not examined
    The information used in creating the record is derived from an extant description of the item without reinspection of the physical item. This code is used primarily in the retrospective conversion of records when all of the descriptive access points but only a specified subset of other data elements are transcribed. Authoritative headings may not be current.
  • 3 - Abbreviated level
    Indicates a brief record that does not meet the National Level Bibliographic Record minimal level cataloging specifications. Headings in the records may reflect established forms to the extent that such forms were available at the time the record was created.
  • 4 - Core level
  • 5 - Partial (preliminary) level
    A record that is not considered final by the creating agency (e.g., the headings may not reflect established forms; the record may not meet national-level cataloging specifications).
  • 7 - Minimal level
    A record that meets the national-level bibliographic record minimal-level cataloging specifications and is considered final by the creating agency. Headings reflect established forms. The U.S. requirements for minimal-level records can be found in National Level and Minimal Level Record Requirements (http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/nlr/)
  • 8 - Prepublication level
    Indicates a prepublication level record. This includes records create in cataloging in publication programs.
  • u - Unknown
    This code is used by an agency receiving or sending data to replace a local code when the appropriate MARC encoding level code cannot be determined. Code u is not used in newly input or updated records.
  • z - Not applicable
    The encoding level concept does not apply to the record.
• 18 - Descriptive cataloging form
  A one-character code that indicates the descriptive cataloging form reflected in the record. Subfield e (Description conventions) of field 040 (Cataloging Source) may contain additional information on the cataloging conventions used.
  • # - Non-ISBD
    The descriptive portion of the record does not follow International Standard Bibliographic Description (ISBD) cataloging and punctuation provisions.
  • a - AACR 2
    The descriptive portion of the record and the choice and form of entry of the access points are formulated according to either the second edition of the Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules or cataloging manuals based on AACR 2. The punctuation practices of ISBD apply.
  • i - ISBD
    The descriptive portion of the record is formulated according to the descriptive and punctuation provisions of ISBD. The heading forms are not formulated according to AACR 2. This category includes records that use ISBD punctuation but the other conventions used are unknown.
  • u - Unknown
    An organization receiving or sending data in Leader/18 cannot determine the appropriate descriptive cataloging form used in the record. Code u is not used in newly input or updated records.
• 19 - Linked record requirement
  A one-character code that indicates whether a note containing basic identification information (i.e., main entry and title, main entry and uniform title, main entry under uniform title, title, uniform title, Standard Technical Report Number, or report number) can be generated from a Linking Entry field (76X-78X).
  • # - Related record not required
    The record contains basic identification information in every Linking Entry field in the record or in a related Linking Entry Complexity Note (field 580), or the record contains no 76X-78X Linking Entry field.
  • r - Related record required
    The record contains at least one 76X-78X Linking Entry field that does not contain basic identification information and contains no related Linking Entry Complexity Note (field 580) with basic identification information.
• 20-23 - Entry map
  Four computer-generated, single-digit numeric characters that indicate the structure of each entry in the Directory.
• 20 - Length of the length-of-field portion
  Contains a 4
• 21 - Length of the starting-character-position portion
  Contains a 5
• 22 - Length of the implementation-defined portion
  Contains a 0
• 23 - Undefined Entry map character position
  Contains a 0

DIRECTORY

Character Positions

• 00-02 - Tag
  Three numeric or alphabetic (uppercase or lowercase, but not both) characters that identify an associated field.
• 03-06 - Field length
  Four numeric characters that indicate the length of the field, including indicators, subfield codes, data, and the field terminator. The number is right justified and each unused position contains a zero.
• 07-11 - Starting character position
  Five numeric characters that indicate the starting character position of the field relative to the Base address of data (Leader/12-16) of the record. The number is right justified and each unused position contains a zero.

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