032 - Postal Registration Number (R)

FIELD DEFINITION AND SCOPE

Number assigned to a publication for which the specified postal service permits the use of a special mailing class privilege.

Postal service registration numbers are required in some countries for certain mailing class privileges.

In the United States, a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) publication number is assigned to publications to which permission has been given to be mailed at second class rates. The determination of eligibility for second class postal rates usually depends on the frequency and circulation of a serial. The USPS number is printed on authorized serial titles.

In Canada, Canada Post (CP) assigns the Second Class Mail Registration Number.

There is not always a one-to-one relationship between the postal registration number and the ISSN. The permit to use second class postal rates is given to a serial under one registration number. If the serial changes its title, etc. the postal registration number usually stays the same while a new ISSN would often be assigned to the changed title, etc. In the United States, an attempt is made at the U.S. Postal Service and the National Serials Data Program (that is responsible for assigning ISSNs) to keep the two identification numbers in sync as much as is possible. NSDP reports to USPS when new ISSNs are assigned to publications bearing USPS registration numbers.

When the serial title is no longer mailed at second class rates (e.g., because the publisher abandoned the second class authorization), field 032 is deleted from the MARC record.

GUIDELINES FOR APPLYING CONTENT DESIGNATORS

■ INDICATORS

• Both indicator positions are undefined; each contains a blank (#).

■ SUBFIELD CODES

INPUT CONVENTIONS