INTRODUCTION TO MARC
Prepared by
Randall K. Barry
(Internet: RBAR@LOC.GOV)
Library of Congress
Network Development and MARC Standards Office
Introduction to MARC
1
MARC = MAchine Readable Cataloging:
Coding of information for processing by computer
Developed for bibliographic information found in library
catalogs
MARC is not a system
MARC is a data record structure
Introduction to MARC
2
BASIC DATABASE CONCEPTS:
The database structure (relational?, not relational?)
The structure of the records that the database contains
(fixed length or variable length?)
The data encoding (what characters are permitted in the
data; character sets)
Introduction to MARC
3
FIXED-LENGTH RECORDS [non MARC]:
1) All records have the same length;
2) All records have the same data elements (fields,
subfields, etc.);
3) The content designation is implicit (there isn’t any
visible content designation)
Introduction to MARC
4
EXAMPLE OF FIXED-LENGTH RECORDS:
\ = blanks
66 characters in each record (19 + 47)
644444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444447
5Le Carré, John\1931The night manager : a novel\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ 5
944444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444448
644444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444447
5Messora, Noemi\\\\Cassell’s contemporary Italian : a handbook\\\\\ 5
944444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444448
644444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444447
5Follett, Ken\\\\\\\A dangerous fortune\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ 5
944444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444448
644444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444447
5Clancy, Tom\\\\\\\\Without remorse\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ 5
944444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444448
644444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444447
5Wouk, Herman\\\\\\\The hope : a novel\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ 5
944444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444448
644444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444447
5Updike, John\\\1932Rabbit at rest\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ 5
944444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444448
Introduction to MARC
5
VARIABLE LENGTH RECORDS:
Each record can have a different length;
Certain data elements can be omitted (NOTE: Almost all
record structures require certain elements!);
Elements can be repeated;
Data elements are identified explicitly;
Introduction to MARC
6
THE SAME DATA IN
VARIABLE LENGTH RECORDS:
= subfield delimiter
= end of field
= end of record
644444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444447
5100 aLe Carré, John d1931 245 aThe night manager : ba novel
5
944444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444448
6444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444
5100 aMessora, Noemi 245 aCassell's contemporary Italian : b a handbook
9444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444
44444444444444444444444444444444444444444444447
5
of grammar, current usage, and word power
44444444444444444444444444444444444444444444448
6444444444444444444444444444444444444444444447
5100 aFollett, Ken 245 aA dangerous fortune
5
9444444444444444444444444444444444444444444448
64444444444444444444444444444444444444447
5
5100 aClancy, Tom 245 aWithout remorse
94444444444444444444444444444444444444448
6444444444444444444444444444444444444444444447
5100 aWouk, Herman 245 aThe hope : ba novel
5
9444444444444444444444444444444444444444444448
644444444444444444444444444444444444444444444447
5
5100 aUpdike, John, d1932 245 aRabbit at rest
944444444444444444444444444444444444444444444448
Introduction to MARC
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ELEMENTS OF THE MARC RECORD:
A MARC record consists of three elements:
– 1) The structure of the record
– 2) The content designation
– 3) The data content--the cataloging itself!
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THE MARC RECORD STRUCTURE:
The MARC record structure is an international standard
(ISO 2709) that consists of 3 parts:
1) The ”Leader" - the first 24 characters in the record;
there isn’t any tag associated with this element
2) The "Directory" - 12 characters units
3) The variable fields of variable length
Introduction to MARC
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MARC STRUCTURAL MODEL:
$ = delimiter
% = end of field
^ = end of record
\ = blank
00000xxx\\22000000x\4500000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000%xxx00000000
0000%xxxxxxx%00000000000000.0%000000x0000\\\\xxx\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\xxx\x%$
x0000000000%\\$xxxxxxxx$xxxx$xxxxxxxx%\\$xxxxxxxxx$xxxxxxxxxx%\\$xxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx%\\$xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx$xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxx$xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx%\\$xxxxxxx%\\$xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx$xxxxxxxxx$x
xxxxx%\\$xxxxxxxxx$xxxxxxx%\\$xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx$xxxxxx%\\$xxxxxx$xxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx$xxxxxxxxxxx$xxxxxxxxx%\\$xxxxxxxxxxxx$xxxxxxxxxxx$xxxxxxx
xx%^
Introduction to MARC
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MARC STRUCTURAL MODEL:
$ = delimiter
% = end of field
^ = end of record
\ = blank
00000xxx\\22000000x\4500000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000%xxx00000000
0000%xxxxxxx%00000000000000.0%000000x0000\\\\xxx\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\xxx\x%$
x0000000000%\\$xxxxxxxx$xxxx$xxxxxxxx%\\$xxxxxxxxx$xxxxxxxxxx%\\$xxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx%\\$xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx$xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxx$xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx%\\$xxxxxxx%\\$xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx$xxxxxxxxx$x
xxxxx%\\$xxxxxxxxx$xxxxxxx%\\$xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx$xxxxxx%\\$xxxxxx$xxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx$xxxxxxxxxxx$xxxxxxxxx%\\$xxxxxxxxxxxx$xxxxxxxxxxx$xxxxxxx
xx%^
Introduction to MARC
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MARC STRUCTURAL MODEL:
$ = delimiter
% = end of field
^ = end of record
\ = blank
00000xxx\\22000000x\4500000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000%xxx00000000
0000%xxxxxxx%00000000000000.0%000000x0000\\\\xxx\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\xxx\x%$
x0000000000%\\$xxxxxxxx$xxxx$xxxxxxxx%\\$xxxxxxxxx$xxxxxxxxxx%\\$xxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx%\\$xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx$xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxx$xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx%\\$xxxxxxx%\\$xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx$xxxxxxxxx$x
xxxxx%\\$xxxxxxxxx$xxxxxxx%\\$xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx$xxxxxx%\\$xxxxxx$xxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx$xxxxxxxxxxx$xxxxxxxxx%\\$xxxxxxxxxxxx$xxxxxxxxxxx$xxxxxxx
xx%^
Introduction to MARC
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MARC STRUCTURAL MODEL:
$ = delimiter
% = end of field
^ = end of record
\ = blank
00000xxx\\22000000x\4500000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000%xxx00000000
0000%xxxxxxx%00000000000000.0%000000x0000\\\\xxx\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\xxx\x%$
x0000000000%\\$xxxxxxxx$xxxx$xxxxxxxx%\\$xxxxxxxxx$xxxxxxxxxx%\\$xxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx%\\$xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx$xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxx$xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx%\\$xxxxxxx%\\$xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx$xxxxxxxxx$x
xxxxx%\\$xxxxxxxxx$xxxxxxx%\\$xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx$xxxxxx%\\$xxxxxx$xxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx$xxxxxxxxxxx$xxxxxxxxx%\\$xxxxxxxxxxxx$xxxxxxxxxxx$xxxxxxx
xx%^
Introduction to MARC
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MARC STRUCTURE WITH REAL DATA:
$ = delimiter
% = end of field
^ = end of record
\ = blank
00654nam\\22002055a\4500001001600000003000800016005001700024008004100041
020001500082040002600097050002400123100002900147245008400176250001100260
260003600271300002100307440003100328650005100359650003800410%gc\96039913
0037%AgBaFGC%19990129173102.5%990129s1998\\\\ag\\\\\\\\\\\\|||\||spa\d%$
a9508020865%\\$aAgBaFGC$bspa$cAgBaFGC%\4$aRA971.38$b.M51 1998%2\$aM’ende
z Diz, Ana Mar’ia.%10$aSalud y poblaci’on :$bcuestiones sociales pendien
tes /$cAna Mar’ia M’endez Diz.%\\$a1a ed.%\\$aBuenos Aires :$bEspacio,$c
1998.%\\$a343 p. ;$c21 cm.%\0$aCiencias Sociales ;$vno. 4%\7$aSalud$xMan
ejo de riesgos$zArgentina.$2lcsh/spa%\7$aPopulaci’on$zArgentina.$2lcsh/s
pa%^
Introduction to MARC
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MARC STRUCTURE WITH REAL DATA:
$ = delimiter
% = end of field
^ = end of record
\ = blank
00654nam\\22002055a\4500 001001600000 003000800016 005001700024 00800410
0041 020001500082 040002600097 050002400123 100002900147 245008400176 25
0001100260 260003600271 300002100307 440003100328 650005100359 650003800
410% gc\960399130037% AgBaFGC% 19990129173102.5% 990129s1998\\\\ag\\\\\\
\\\\\\|||\||spa\d %$a9508020865% \\$aAgBaFGC$bspa$cAgBaFGC% \4$aRA971.38
$b.M51 1998% 2\$aM’endez Diz, Ana Mar’ia.% 10$aSalud y poblaci’on :$bcue
stiones sociales pendientes /$cAna Mar’ia M’endez Diz.% \\$a1a ed.%\\$aB
uenos Aires :$bEspacio,$c1998.%\\$a343 p. ;$c21 cm.%\0$aCiencias Sociale
s ;$vno. 4% \7$aSalud$xManejo de riesgos$zArgentina.$2lcsh/spa% \7$aPopu
laci’on$zArgentina.$2lcsh/spa%^
Introduction to MARC
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ANALISIS OF A DIRECTORY ENTRY:
245
0084
00176
Field tag
Field length
Location in the record
The length includes the indicator positions, subfield
delimiters, and “end-of-field” control character
Introduction to MARC
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MARC TAGGED DISPLAY:
000
001
003
005
008
020
040
050
100
245
250
260
300
440
650
650
00654nam\\22002055a\4500
gc 960399130037
AgBaFGC
19990129173102.5
990129s1998\\\\ag\\\\\\\\\\\\|||\||spa\d
\\$a9508020865
\\$aAgBaFGC$bspa$cAgBaFGC
\4$aRA971.38$b.M51 1998
2\$aMéndez Diz, Ana María.
10$aSalud y población :$bcuestiones sociales /$cAna María Méndez Diz.
\\$a1a ed.
\\$aBuenos Aires :$bEspacio,$c1998.
\\$a343 p. ;$c21 cm.
\0$aCiencias Sociales ;$vno. 4
\7$aSalud$xManejo de riesgos$zArgentina.$2lcsh/spa
\7$aPopulación$zArgentina.$2lcsh/spa
Introduction to MARC
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TRADITIONAL CARD DISPLAY:
Méndez Diz, Ana María.
Salud y población : cuestiones sociales / Ana María Diz.
-- 1a ed. -- Buenos Aires : Espacio, 1998.
343 p. ; 21 cm. -- (Ciencias sociales ; no. 4)
ISBN 95-08020-86-5
1. Salud--Manejo de riesgos--Argentina. 2. Populación
--Argentina. I. Título. II. Serie.
RA971.38.M51 1998
Introduction to MARC
gc 960399130037
18
STANDARDS FOR THE DATA CONTENT:
Cataloging rules that control the creation of bibliographic
records (AACR, RAD, RAK, PSBO, etc.)
International standards (ISBD(M), ISBD(S), etc.) for the
description of bibliographic items
Local and national law that require certain information
Special requirements from the cataloging agency
(declaration of special practices)
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WHAT IS A FORMAT?:
A format determines ... The list of data elements for each
type of MARC record
In fixed length fields (the “positions”)
In variable fields... The MARC field "tags”, indicator
positions, and subfields
Required elements... Obligatory and optional data
Repeatability... What is repeatable or not repeatable?
Introduction to MARC
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IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MARC FORMAT:
MARC 21 - known before by the names USMARC or
CAN/MARC; now represents the amalgamatión of the
two; used in many countries;
UNIMARC - format developed by IFLA as a "universal
exchange format", not as widely used as MARC 21;
CCF - Common Communication Format, format
developed by Unesco for older “ISIS” systems;
RUSMARC – UNIMARC-based format used in Russia.
Introduction to MARC
21
OFFICIAL IMPLEMENTATIONS OF THE
MARC 21 FORMAT:
1) MARC 21 Format for Bibliographic Data
2) MARC 21 Format for Authority Data
3) MARC 21 Format for Holdings Data
4) MARC 21 Format for Classification Data
5) MARC 21 Format for Community Information
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GROUPS OF BIBLIOGRAPHIC FIELDS:
0XX - Numbers and codes, classification
1XX - Main entries
2XX - Titles, edition, imprints, etc.
3XX - Physical description, (collation)
4XX - Series statements
5XX - Notes
6XX - Subject access points
7XX - Added entries
8XX - Location and holdings information
9XX - Local information fields
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GROUPS OF AUTHORITY FIELDS:
0XX - Numbers and codes, classification
1XX - Headings
2XX - Complex “see” references
3XX - Complex “see also” references
4XX - “See” references
5XX - “See Also” references
6XX - Series treatment and reference notes
7XX - Linking entry headings
8XX – Location, alternate graphics
9XX - Local information fields
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PARALLELISM BETWEEN FIELD GROUPS:
X00 - Personal name
X10 - Corporate name
X11 - Conference or meeting name
X20 - Uncontrolled name
X30 - Uniform title
X40 - Transcribed title (uncontrolled)
X48 - Chronological term
X50 - Subject term
X51 - Geographic name
X55 - Form/genre term
X9X - Local group
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INDICATOR POSITIONS:
The MARC structure permits the definition of indicator
positions at the beginning of each field. In most fields,
there are two indicator positions; each contains a numeric
code or blank.
First indicator position - in general, specifies more
precisely the content of the field, or contains blank;
Second indicator position - Used to indicate other
differences, or contains a blank.
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FIELDS WITH IMPORTANT INDICATORS:
041 - 1st indicator: translation or not
1XX - 1st indicator: type of name
245 - 1st indicator: generation of added entry
245 - 2nd indicator: characters to skip in indexing
246 - 2nd indicator: type of variant title
440 - 2nd indicator: characters to skip in indexing
5XX - 1st indicator: display controller
6XX - 1st indicator: type of name
6XX - 2nd indicator: source of heading
7XX - 1st indicator: type of name
856 - 1st indicator: type of access
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FIXED-LENGTH DATA ELEMENTS:
Most MARC formats contain some fixed-length data
elements (“fixed fields”)
Fixed-length elements are often in the 002-009 range of
fields
Fixed-length data are often coded data elements
(country, language, etc.)
Some variable fields have subfields with fixed-length
data
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LOCAL DATA:
In the MARC 21 formats, elements with the number "9"
are always reserved for local use local
– 9XX - Groups of local fields
– X9X - Local fields in a non-local group
– XX9 - Local field in a subgroup of non-local fields
9 - Local subfield
– 9 - Local subfield code or indicator value, or a local
value or code in a non-local field
– Exception: field 490 (an historical anomaly!)
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A FEW MARC SYSTEMS:
Dynix (Ameritech)
Voyager (Endeavor Information Systems, Inc.)
EOS (Electronic Online Systems International)
Follett (Follett Software Co.)
GEAC (GEAC)
Horizon (Ameritech)
INNOPAC (Innovative Interfaces, Inc.)
MultiLIS (Sobeco Group, Inc.)
SIRSI (Sirsi Corporation)
VTLS (VTLS, Inc.)
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MARC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:
1) Ability to import MARC records
2) Ability to export MARC records
3) Ability to create, change, and delete records from a
MARC database
4) “Roundtrip” compatibility of data (no loss of data
during processing)
5) Ability to handle special characters (basic Latin script,
letters with diacritics, and other non-Latin scripts)
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USERS OF THE MARC FORMATS:
Public libraries and media centers
Industrial and governmental archives
Community information providers (local, state, provincial,
national, and international)
Museums (other than their libraries)
School and universities (probably the most active group of
MARC users)
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ADVANTAGES OF THE MARC 21 FORMATS:
In use for more than 35 years (since 1969)
Has a very high level of conformity within a small number
of standard implementations
The basis for library networks
The format unifies the world of machine-readable data
Flexibility for all types of data (the format adapts easily for
different classes of information)
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MAINTENANCE OF THE MARC 21 FORMATS BY
THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS:
Maintenance agency for the MARC 21 formats: The
Library of Congress, Network Development and MARC
Standards Office
Documentation: 5 formats; 5 code lists; specifications for
the MARC structure MARC, character sets, and exchange
media;
Coordination of MARC Advisory Group; two meetings per
year of the international group "MARBI"
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SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS WITH MARC:
What type of data is there? (This determines the type of
record required: bibliographic, authority, etc.)
With what other systems will the data be shared? (In
order to better choose the format)
What character encoding is needed? (This controls how
the bibliographic data is encoded)
What data conversion strategy? (for non-MARC data in
existing databases)
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35
LATIN CHARACTER SET
(ISO 646 or ANSI X3.4 ASCII):
!
“
#
$
%
‘
(
)
*
+
,
-
4
5
6
7
8
9
:
;
<
=
>
?
@
F
G H
I
J
K
L
W
X
j
k
}
`
Y
l
m
Z
[
n
\
o
M
N
] ^
p
q
_
r
O
`
s
P
a
t
/
0
1
2
3
A
B
C
D
E
Q
R
S
T
c
d
e
f
g
h
I
x
y
z
{
|
b
u
.
v
w
U
V
Special control characters:
⌫ (escape '1B' hex) ⌦ (end of record '1D' hex)
(end of field '1E' hex)
(delimiter '1F' hex)
Introduction to MARC
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SUPPLEMENTARY LATIN SET
(ISO 5426 or ANSI Z39.47 ANSEL):
Special characters for bibliographic data in different Latin
script languages
Repertoire of non-spacing characters that are used with the
Latin script for non-Latin languages in transliteration
Coding example: “mañana” (in MARC 21, the “ñ” is
encoded with two characters, the non-spacing character
“~” followed by “n”; not encoded with the single special
character "ñ")
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37
INFORMATION ABOUT THE MARC FORMATS:
U.S. Library of Congress,
Network Development and MARC Standards Office,
Washington, DC 20540-4402, E.U.A.
Tel: +1-202-707-5118
Fax: +1-202-707-0115
Email: NDMSO@LOC.GOV
Web Page: HTTP://WWW.LOC.GOV/MARC/
To request technical documentation, write to:
Cataloging Distribution Service,
Washington, DC 20541-4910, E.U.A.
Web Page: HTTP://WWW.LOC.GOV/CDS/
Introduction to MARC
38