Technical Bulletin 256
Abbreviated-Level Record Guidelines

July 2008

About Technical Bulletin 256

Why read this?

To learn about the new OCLC guidelines for abbreviated-level (encoding-level 3) records.

Record processing information

All sections describe changes that may affect local system processing of OCLC-MARC records.

Route to

Cataloging staff.

Online Installation

No system changes are needed to accommodate these guidelines. Catalogers may begin using these guidelines immediately for original cataloging at the abbreviated level.

Support

Contact your OCLC regional service provider or the user training development manager at OCLC if you are an independent institution.

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Documentation affected

Bibliographic Formats and Standards, Connexion browser Help, Connexion client Help

Conventions

Throughout the technical bulletin, R = Repeatable and NR = Nonrepeatable.

1 Introduction

Background

OCLC implemented support for Encoding Level value 3 (abbreviated-level) several years ago but at that time there were no established standards for the content of an abbreviated-level record. In the intervening time, some individual institutions have laid out their own guidelines for use in particular projects and have expressed a desire to include those records in WorldCat.

OCLC staff have worked with the Collections and Technical Services Advisory Committee and the Members Council Cataloging and Metadata Services Group to establish OCLC-defined guidelines for the content of abbreviated-level records. The elements listed below have been chosen particularly to support accurate identification of materials for cataloging and discovery purposes and to support automated matching processes.

2 Guidelines

Abbreviated-level cataloging guidelines

These guidelines may be used immediately for original cataloging at the abbreviated level. All fields not included in this list are Optional for abbreviated-level records.

Encoding Level 3 Record Guidelines
Element	Tag	Input standard	Note
Fixed field
Type of Record	Type	M
Bibliographic level	BLvl	M
Encoding level	ELvl	M (value 3)
Descriptive cataloging form	Desc	M (code as appropriate)
Type of Date	DtSt	M
Date1/Date2	Dates	M/R
Country of Publication	Ctry	M
Form of Item	Form	R
Language	Lang	M
Cataloging Source	Srce	M (value d)
Variable field
LCCN	010	R
ISBN	020	R
ISSN	022	R
Music Publisher Number	028	R
Cataloging Source	040	SS
Authentication Code	042	R	Omit (unless created from Dublin Core record, in which case use code dc).
Main or Added Entry	1XX /7XX	R	Include one 7xx field if applicable and if 1xx is not applicable. For some data from non-MARC sources, field 720 may be appropriate.
Title	245	M: ‡a; R: ‡b, ‡c, ‡h
Varying Form of Title	246	R	Emphasize varying titles, such as those containing symbols or numbers.
Edition	250	R
Publication Information	260	R: ‡a, ‡b, ‡c
Physical Description	300	R: ‡a
Series Statement	490	R	Transcribe series, if present, in 490, untraced, with 1st indicator 0.
Electronic Location and Access	856	R: ‡u	Other subfields are optional.
Key: M=Mandatory; R=Required if applicable; SS=System-supplied

3 Comparison of Guidelines

Comparison of cataloging level guidelines

Use the following chart to compare Full-, Core-, Minimal-, and Abbreviated-level standards for key areas in records:

Element	Full-Level	Core-Level	Minimal-Level	Abbreviated-Level
ELvl	,, I, L	4	K, 2, 5, 7, M	3
Fixed field	Code fully on every record	Code fully on every record	Default values	Type: M BLvl: M Desc: M DtSt: M Date 1: M Date 2: R Ctry: M Form: R Lang: M Srce: M (value d) Other elements are optional.
020, 022, 028	Supply full available information	Subfield ‡a if present on item	Subfield ‡a if present on item	Subfield ‡a if present on item
042	Include as program requires	Include if PCC participant	Omit	Omit (unless created from Dublin Core record, in which case use code dc).
050, 082, 086, etc.	One number from a recognized scheme if available	One number from a recognized scheme	Optional	Optional
1xx	Include/establish if applicable	Include/establish if applicable	Include/establish if applicable	Include 1xx if applicable.
240	Include/establish if applicable	Include if known or inferred from item	Optional	Optional
245–300	Include all applicable elements	Include all applicable elements	Include all applicable elements	Include the following elements, if applicable: 245 M: ‡a 245 M: ‡a; R: ‡b, ‡c, ‡h 246 R; Emphasize varying titles, such as those containing symbols or numbers. 250 R 260 R: ‡a, ‡b, ‡c 300 R: ‡a
4xx	Transcribe series if present. Trace according to LC practice	Transcribe series if present. If traced, PCC participants should support with authority record	Transcribe if present	Transcribe series, if present, in 490, untraced, with 1st indicator 0.
5xx	All applicable notes according to the latest revision of AACR2 and LCRIs	Enter the following notes if applicable: Field 500 Field 502 Field 505 Field 533	Enter the following notes if applicable: Field 501 Field 502 Field 533	Optional
6xx	Subject headings at appropriate level of specificity from an established thesaurus or subject heading system if available	At least 1 or 2 subject headings at appropriate level of specificity from an established thesaurus or subject heading system if available	Optional	Optional
7xx	Full added entry coverage according to the latest revision of AACR2 and LCRIs	Express primary added entry relationships and important title access information	Express primary added entry relationships and important title access information	Include one 7xx field if applicable and if 1xx is not applicable. For some data from non-MARC sources, field 720 may be appropriate.
8xx (Established form of series if different from that in field 490)	If series is traced, use as appropriate	If series is traced, use as appropriate	Optional	Omit
856	Optional	Optional	Optional	R: ‡u Other subfields are optional.
In the Abbreviated-Level column, M=Mandatory; R=Required if applicable.