WorldCat Validation release notes, October 2020

OCLC-MARC Validations of New MARC Codes Announced September 2020

You may now use all new MARC Codes announced by the Library of Congress in the following LC Technical Notices:

• Technical Notice (September 11, 2020)
• Technical Notice (September 16, 2020)

Allowing a Fill Character in Authority 008/39 for LC Subjects

In order to accommodate new Library of Congress (LC) authority record coding practice for LC Subject Headings (LCSH) and LC Genre/Form Terms for Library and Archival Materials (LCGFT), a fill character (No Attempt to Code) will now be allowed in Authority 008/39 (Cataloging Source) for the OCLC-MARC Authority validation rule set for LC Subjects. Previously, Authority 008/39 in such records had been coded either “blank” or “c” depending upon the code in field 040 subfield $a.

Validating Three Fill Characters in Bibliographic 008/35-37

In order to accommodate National Library of Australia practices and bring OCLC-MARC into closer alignment with MARC 21, the value of three fill characters ( ||| ) is now valid in the Bibliographic field 008/35-37 (Language Code). Three fill characters are now used in either of two instances: (1) if no attempt is made to code the language of the resource, or (2) if non-MARC language coding is preferred and coded in field 041 (Language Code). The three fill character value can be used only in the Bibliographic 008/35-37; it cannot be used in any of the other fields or subfields where MARC Language Codes are valid in bibliographic, authority, or holdings records in WorldCat.

Correction of Relationship Between Subfield $2 and First Indicator “7” in Authority Fields 082 and 083

You may once again enter subfield $2 without coding the First Indicator value “7” in Authority fields 082 and 083 in both the OCLC-MARC Authority validation rule set for the Library of Congress Name Authority Cooperative (NACO) and the rule set that includes all valid elements of the MARC 21 Authority Format. Previously, the presence of subfield $2 erroneously required the First Indicator to be coded “7”. The reverse relationship, in which First Indicator 7 requires the presence of subfield $2 remains in place.

Correction to Validation for Parenthetical Prefixes to Record Control Numbers in Subfields $w and $0

You may resume entering correctly formatted parenthetical prefixes in bibliographic subfields $w and $0. Previously, validation was erroneously flagging as invalid such correctly formulated parenthetical MARC Organization Codes as “(DE-588)” when they preceded record control numbers, most commonly in bibliographic fields 760-787 subfields $w. Similarly, validation was erroneously flagging as invalid such correctly formulated parenthetical standard identifier source codes as “(viaf)” when they preceded textual standard identifiers in subfields $0.

Correction to Validation of LCCNs Beginning with the Numeral “2”

You may again correctly validate LCCNs beginning with the numeral “2” in subfield $w in bibliographic fields 760-787. Previously, eight-digit LCCNs beginning with the numeral “2” were erroneously being flagged as having been formatted incorrectly.

Virtual AskQC office hours

Join OCLC Metadata Quality staff to discuss WorldCat quality issues and cataloging questions. Visit AskQC for information about upcoming office hours, previous office hour recordings, and supporting materials.

Support website(s)

Support information for this product and related products can be found at:

• OCLC Connexion
• WorldShare Record Manager
• WorldShare Collection Manager
• OCLC Community Center
• Cataloging Documentation
• Contact OCLC Support