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Leader (NR)


MARC 21 LITE Bibliographic
April 2008

Fixed field that comprises the first 24 character positions (00-23) of each bibliographic record and consists of data elements that contain numbers or coded values that define the parameters for the processing of the record.

[Link to MARC 21 Concise Formats]

Character Positions
00-04 - Record length
Computer-generated, five-character number equal to the length of the entire record, including itself and the record terminator. The number is right justified and unused positions contain zeros.
05 - Record status
One-character alphabetic code that indicates the relationship of the record to a file for file maintenance purposes.
c - Corrected or revised
Addition/change other than in the Encoding level code has been made to the record.
d - Deleted
n - New
06 - Type of record
One-character alphabetic code used to define the characteristics and components of the record.
a - Language material
Includes microforms and electronic resources that are basically textual in nature, whether they are reproductions from print or originally produced.
c - Notated music
Used for printed, microform, or electronic notated music.
d - Manuscript notated music
Used for manuscript notated music or a microform of manuscript music.
e - Cartographic material
Includes maps, atlases, globes, digital maps, and other cartographic items.
f - Manuscript cartographic material
Used for manuscript cartographic material or a microform of manuscript cartographic material.
g - Projected medium
Used for motion pictures, videorecordings (including digital video), filmstrips, slide, transparencies or material specifically designed for projection.
i - Nonmusical sound recording
Used for a recording of nonmusical sounds (e.g., speech).
j - Musical sound recording
Used for a musical sound recording (e.g., phonodiscs, compact discs, or cassette tapes.
k - Two-dimensional nonprojectable graphic
Used for two-dimensional nonprojectable graphics such as, activity cards, charts, collages, computer graphics, digital pictures, drawings, duplication masters, flash cards, paintings, photo CDs, photomechanical reproductions, photonegatives, photoprints, pictures, postcards, posters, prints, spirit masters, study prints, technical drawings, transparency masters, and reproductions of any of these.
m - Computer file
Used 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 as 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
Used for a mixture of various components issued as a unit and intended primarily for instructional purposes where no one item is the predominant component of the kit.
p - Mixed materials
Used when 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
Includes man-made objects such as models, dioramas, games, puzzles, simulations, sculptures and other three-dimensional art works, exhibits, machines, clothing, toys, and stitchery. Also includes naturally occurring objects such as, microscope specimens (or representations of them) and other specimens mounted for viewing.
t - Manuscript language material
07 - Bibliographic level
One-character alphabetic code indicating the bibliographic level of the record.
a - Monographic component part
Monographic bibliographic unit that is physically attached to or contained in another unit such that the retrieval of the component part is dependent on the identification and location of the host item or container. Contains fields that describe the component part and data that identify the host, field 773 (Host Item Entry).
c - Collection
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.
i - Integrating resource
Bibliographic resource that is added to or changed by means of updates that do not remain discrete and are integrated into the whole. Examples include updating loose-leafs and updating Web sites.
m - Monograph/Item
Item either complete in one part (e.g., a single monograph, a single map, a single manuscript, etc.) or intended to be completed, in a finite number of separate parts (e.g., a multivolume monograph, a sound recording with multiple tracks, etc.).
s - Serial
Bibliographic item issued in successive parts bearing numerical or chronological designations and intended to be continued indefinitely. Includes periodicals; newspapers; annuals (reports, yearbooks, etc.); the journals, memoirs, proceedings, transactions, etc., of societies; and numbered monographic series, etc.
08 - Type of control
# - No specific type
09 - Character coding scheme
Identifies the character coding scheme used in the record.
# - MARC-8
a - UCS/Unicode
10 - Indicator count
Computer-generated number 2 that indicates the number of character positions used for indicators in a variable data field.
11 - Subfield code count
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
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
One-character alphanumeric code that indicates the fullness of the bibliographic information and/or content designation of the MARC record.
# - Full level
Most complete MARC record created from information derived from an inspection of the physical item.
5 - Partial (preliminary) level
Preliminary cataloging level 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).
u - Unknown
Used by an agency receiving or sending data with a local code in Leader/17 cannot adequately determine the appropriate encoding level of the record. Code u thus replaces the local code. Not used in newly input or updated records.
18 - Descriptive cataloging form
One-character alphanumeric code that indicates characteristics of the descriptive data in the record through reference to cataloging norms. Subfield ‡e (Description conventions) of field 040 (Cataloging Source) may contain additional information on the cataloging conventions used.
a - AACR 2
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, 2nd Edition (AACR 2) or cataloging manuals based on AACR 2, which follow ISBD in their descriptive cataloging sections. The punctuation practices of ISBD apply.
i - ISBD
Descriptive portion of the record is formulated according to the descriptive and punctuation provisions of ISBD. Heading forms are not formulated according to AACR 2.
u - Unknown
Institution receiving or sending data in Leader/18 cannot adequately determine the appropriate descriptive cataloging form used in the record. May be used in records converted from another metadata format.
19 - Multipart resource record level
# - Not specified or not applicable
20 - Length of the length-of-field portion
Always contains a 4.
21 - Length of the starting-character-position portion
Always contains a 5.
22 - Length of the implementation-defined portion
Always contains a 0.
23 - Undefined
Always contains a 0.

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