Skip to main content
OCLC Support

Field 008 Fixed-Length Data Elements – authority format

Character Description CBS
MARC
tag
PICA+
tag
Import, online cataloguing and MARC 21 export
    M08A 014A  
00-05 Date entered on file $a $a
  • During import from MARC 21 general

Date entered on file is – under certain conditions – converted to tag 0252 / 002W - Date of creation in original database of main level data -.

  • During online cataloguing

The date is not added.

  • During export to MARC 21 general

The date of CBS tag 0200 / 001A is taken. When there is no CBS tag 0200 / 001A, six zeros are generated.

  • During export to WorldCat

The date of CBS tag 0200 / 001A is taken. When there is no CBS tag 0200 / 001A six zeros are generated.

06 Direct or indirect geographic subdivision $b $b
  • During import from MARC 21 general
    • When the value is present and is not | - No attempt to code -, it is imported.
    •  When the value is |, it is ignored.

The value must be one of the officially allowed codes.

  • During online cataloguing

The value can be added or updated.

  • During export to MARC 21 general
    • When the value is present, it is exported.
    • When the value is missing, value | - No attempt to code - is generated.
  • During export to WorldCat
    • When the value is present, it is exported.
    • When the value is missing, value | - No attempt to code - is generated.
07 Romanization scheme $c $c
08 Language of catalog $d $d
09 Kind of record $e $e
10 Descriptive cataloging rules $f $f
11 Subject heading system/thesaurus $g $g
12 Type of series $h $h
13 Numbered or unnumbered series $i $i
14 Heading use – main or added entry $j $j
15 Heading use – subject added entry $k $k
16 Heading use – series added entry $l $l
17 Type of subject subdivision $m $m
18-27 Undefined character positions $n-$w $n-$w
  • During import from MARC 21 general

 When the value is present, it is ignored.

  • During online cataloguing

The value can be added or updated.

  • During export to MARC 21 general
    • When the value is present, it is exported.
    • When the value is missing, | - No attempt to code - is generated.
  • During export to WorldCat
    • When the value is present, it is exported.
    • When the value is missing, | - No attempt to code - is generated.
28 Type of government agency $x $x
  • During import from MARC 21 general
    • When the value is present and is not | - No attempt to code -, it is imported.
    •  When the value is |, it is ignored.

The value must be one of the officially allowed codes.

  • During online cataloguing

The value can be added or updated.

  • During export to MARC 21 general
    • When the value is present, it is exported.
    • When the value is missing, value | - No attempt to code - is generated.
  • During export to WorldCat
    • When the value is present, it is exported.
    • When the value is missing, value | - No attempt to code - is generated.
29 Reference evaluation $y $y
30 Undefined character position $z $z
  • During import from MARC 21 general

 When the value is present, it is ignored.

  • During online cataloguing

The value can be added or updated.

  • During export to MARC 21 general
    • When the value is present, it is exported.
    • When the value is missing, | - No attempt to code - is generated.
  • During export to WorldCat
    • When the value is present, it is exported.
    • When the value is missing, | - No attempt to code - is generated.
31 Record update in process $A $A
  • During import from MARC 21 general
    • When the value is present and is not | - No attempt to code -, it is imported.
    •  When the value is |, it is ignored.
  • During online cataloguing

The value can be added or updated.

  • During export to MARC 21 general
    • When this value is present, it is exported.
    • When the value is missing: when Leader position 17 is n - Complete authority record -, then value a - Record can be used -, is generated. In other cases: b - Record is being updated -, is generated.
  • During export to WorldCat
    • When this value is present, it is exported.
    • When the value is missing: when Leader position 17 is n - Complete authority record -, then value a - Record can be used -, is generated. In other cases: b - Record is being updated -, is generated.
32 Undifferentiated personal name $B $B
  • During import from MARC 21 general
    • When the value is present and is not | - No attempt to code -, it is imported.
    •  When the value is |, it is ignored.
  • During online cataloguing

The value can be added or updated.

  • During export to MARC 21 general
    • When this value is present, it is exported.
    • When the value is missing:
      • When position 2 of CBS tag 0500 / 002@ - Bibliographic type and status - is p - Heading – Personal Name -, value | - No attempt to code - is generated.
      • When position 2 of CBS tag 0500 / 002@ - Bibliographic type and status - is not equal to p - Heading – Personal Name -, n - Not applicable - is generated.
  • During export to WorldCat
    • When this value is present, it is exported.
    • When the value is missing:
      • When position 2 of CBS tag 0500 / 002@ - Bibliographic type and status - is p - Heading – Personal Name -, value | - No attempt to code - is generated.
      • When position 2 of CBS tag 0500 / 002@ - Bibliographic type and status - is not equal to p - Heading – Personal Name -, n - Not applicable - is generated.
33 Level of establishment $C $C
  • During import from MARC 21 general
    • When the value is present and is not | - No attempt to code -, it is imported.
    •  When the value is |, it is ignored.

The value must be one of the officially allowed codes.

  • During online cataloguing

The value can be added or updated.

  • During export to MARC 21 general
    • When the value is present, it is exported.
    • When the value is missing, value | - No attempt to code - is generated.
  • During export to WorldCat
    • When the value is present, it is exported.
    • When the value is missing, value | - No attempt to code - is generated.
34-37 Undefined character positions $D-$G $D-$G
  • During import from MARC 21 general

 When the value is present, it is ignored.

  • During online cataloguing

The value can be added or updated.

  • During export to MARC 21 general
    • When the value is present, it is exported.
    • When the value is missing, | - No attempt to code - is generated.
  • During export to WorldCat
    • When the value is present, it is exported.
    • When the value is missing, | - No attempt to code - is generated.
38 Modified record $H $H
  • During import from MARC 21 general
    • When the value is present and is not | - No attempt to code -, it is imported.
    •  When the value is |, it is ignored.

The value must be one of the officially allowed codes.

  • During online cataloguing

The value can be added or updated.

  • During export to MARC 21 general
    • When the value is present, it is exported.
    • When the value is missing, value | - No attempt to code - is generated.
  • During export to WorldCat
    • When the value is present, it is exported.
    • When the value is missing, value | - No attempt to code - is generated.
39 Cataloging source $I $I
  • During import from MARC 21 general
    • When the value is present and is not | - No attempt to code -, it is imported.
    •  When the value is |, it is ignored.

The value must be one of the officially allowed codes.

  • During online cataloguing

The value can be added or updated.

  • During export to MARC 21 general
    • When the value is present, it is exported.
    • When the value is missing, value | - No attempt to code - is generated.
  • During export to WorldCat
    • When the value is present, it is exported.
    • When the value is missing, value | - No attempt to code - is generated.

 

MARC field 008 - Fixed-Length Data Elements - blanks (hashes) "with a meaning"

Blanks (hashes) have a “meaning” in MARC field 008 - Fixed-Length Data Elements - on main/master level often. So, a blank (hash) doesn't always mean "undefined", "unknown", or "unspecified".

The following table gives an overview on the blanks (hashes) “with a meaning”. This is very important to be aware of when data is imported, exported, or converted.

Especially when data is delivered by a library which has no "MARC 21 background" as far it applies the format of the records, and the format of that library has no fields like Leader or coded data like field 008, then the delivered fields like 008 have been generated automatically probably without checking the values with the "items in hand". This implies that the blanks (hashes) "with a meaning" mean in fact "No attempt to code". Then, the decision can be taken - in cooperation with the library - to remove those blanks (hashes) from the records. 

Position tag 008 Explanation of position Explanation of blank / hash
06 Direct or indirect geographic subdivision Not subdivided geographically
28 Type of government agency Not a government agency
38 Modified record Not modified
39 Cataloging source National bibliographic agency