MARC: Core Fixed Fields

Fixed fields must be encoded according to MARC 21 standards.  Accuracy is important because Evergreen relies on this data for search filters and icons displayed in the OPAC.  The search filters will not work, and the incorrect icon will display if the fields are not encoded properly. 

The Type (Type), Audience (Audn), Form (Form), Language (Lang), Literary form (LitF) and the first Date (Date1) fixed field elements are all tied into the Evergreen searching process so are especially important. The fixed fields mentioned below will be the most commonly used fields and codes in monograph records. For a complete look at all available fixed fields, see OCLC Bib Formats & Standards or MARC 21 Format for Bibliographic Data.

AccM – Accompanying Matter #

Contents of accompanying material for sound recordings, music manuscripts, or printed music.

# = No accompanying material

a = Discography

b = Bibliography

d = Libretto or text

Audn – Audience #

Audience level for the item.

# = Unknown or unspecified.

a = Preschool (ages 0-5) | Use for all board books and any other materials targeted at this age group.

b = Primary (ages 6-8)

c = Pre-adolescent (ages 9-13) | Codes a, b, and c indicate specific age groups for children. Please use these if a target audience is indicated on the item.  If no age or grade level is indicated, use of a, b, and c is optional, except for board books, and j may be used for juvenile materials.

d = Adolescent (ages 14-17) | Use for young adult/teen material

e = Adult (ages 18+) | Use for books and audiobooks in the adult collections. Should also be used for Rated R and Unrated movies. Movies which are Not Rated, as opposed to Unrated, may be assigned an audience as appropriate. This code should also be used for music with adult language and content.

f = Specialized | Use when the item is aimed at a particular audience and the nature of the presentation makes the item of little interest to other audiences.

g = General | Use when the item is of general interest and not aimed at an audience of a particular intellectual level. Use for items that are not covered more appropriately by the other codes. Use for movies rated G, PG, and PG-13, though G or PG rated movies specifically aimed at children may be coded as ‘j’.

j = Juvenile | Use for items intended for children and young people, approximately 0-15 years. Use when a more specific code for the juvenile target (a, b, c) audience is not desired.

BLvl – Bibliographic Level #

The bibliographic level of the record – mode of issuance, relationship of parts.

m = Monograph/Item

s = Serial

Biog – Biography #

Indicates if the item contains biographical material (and what kind).

# = No biographical material

a = Autobiography

b = Individual biography

c = Collective biography

d = Contains biographical information

Comp – Form of Composition #

Form of musical composition. Uses two characters.

## = No information supplied

an = Anthems

bd = Ballads

bg = Bluegrass music

bl = Blues

cr = Carols

cy = Country music

fm = Folk music

gm = Gospel music

hy = Hymns

jz = Jazz

mp = Motion picture music

nn = Not applicable (not a musical sound recording)

pp = Popular music

rc = Rock music

Conf – Conference Publication #

Whether the item includes conference material (introductions, reports, etc.)

# = Not a conference publication

Cont – Nature of Contents #

Defines the type(s) of materials the item contains.

a = Abstracts/Summaries

b = Bibliographies

c = Catalogs

d = Dictionaries

e = Encyclopedias

f = Handbooks

r = Directories

y = Yearbooks

6 = Comics/graphic novels

Ctry – Country of Publication #

The state or country of publication, production or execution. Must be 2-3 characters. For the United States, the first two characters represent the state and the third character represents the country. For a list of codes, see the MARC Code List for Countries.

Indiana = inu

New York = nyu

Toronto = onc

Dtst – Type of Date/Publication Status #

The type of dates associated with the item (production, publication, copyright, etc.) Character used in Dtst determines where data is placed in the Date1 (f) and Date2 fixed fields.

c = Continuing resource currently published (Date1)

d = Continuing resource ceased publication (Date1 | Date2)

p = Date of Distribution/release/issue and production/recording date (Date1 | Date2)

r = Reprint/reissue date and original date (Date1 | Date2)

s = Single date (Date1)

t = Publication date and copyright date when they are different (Date1 | Date2)

Dates #

Date1 (f): Four digits based on character selected in Dtst.

Date2: Four digits based on character selected in Dtst other than s.

Desc – Descriptive Cataloging Form #

Form of descriptive cataloging

a = Use for AACR2 records

i = Use for RDA records

ELvl – Encoding Level #

Indicates how complete the information within the MARC Record is.

# = Full level. The record contains data to conform to the MARC21 Format for Bibliographic Data, National Level Full and Minimal Requirements.

7 = Minimal level. The record contains data to conform to the MARC21 Format for Bibliographic Data, National Level Full and Minimal Requirements.

8 = Prepublication level. Should only be used for On-Order records and must be updated to at least a ‘7’ once the item is in hand.

EntW – Nature of Entire Work #

Nature of entire work if it consists entirely of a certain type of material.

# = Not specified

a = Abstracts/summaries

b = Bibliographies

c = Catalogs

e = Encyclopedias

f = Handbooks

y = Yearbooks

5 = Calendars

6 = Comics/graphic novels

Fest – Festscrift #

Whether the work is a festschrift (memorial publication)

# = Not a festschrift

1 = Festschrift

File – Type of Computer File #

The type of computer file.

g = Game (File is for recreational or educational use. Usually text and software, including videogames)

Form – Form of the Item #

The form of the material being described.

# = None of the following

a = Microfilm

b = Microfiche

d = Large print

f = Braille

o = Online

q = Direct Electronic (Audio-enabled books)

FMus – Format of Music #

Format of a musical composition.

a = Full score

k = Vocal score

p = Piano score

Freq – Frequency #

The frequency a serial is released.

# = Use when the frequence is known to be intentionally irregular

a = Annual

b = Bimonthly (issued every two months)

c = Semiweekly

d = Daily

e = Biweekly (issued every two weeks)

f = Semiannual

m = Monthly

q = Quarterly

w = Weekly

GPub – Government Publication #

Is the item published by a government agency?

# = Not a government publication

f = Federal/National

l = Local

m = Multistate

s = State, provincial, territorial, dependent, etc.

Ills – Illustrations #

Defines if there are illustrations in the item. May use up to four (4) codes in alphabetical order.

# = No illustrations

a = Illustrations

b = Maps

c = Portraits

d = Charts

f = Plates

j = Genealogical tables

o = Photographs

Indx – Index #

Defines if the item contains an index.

0 = No index

1 = Includes an index

Lang – Language #

The language of the item. For a list of language codes, see the MARC Code List for Languages.

eng = English
fre = French
spa = Spanish

LitF – Literary Form #

Defines the item to be fiction, nonfiction, or a specific form therein.

0 = Nonfiction

1 = Fiction (not further specified)

d = Dramas

e = Essays

h = Humor, satire, etc.

j = Short stories

p = Poetry

LTxt – Literary Text for Sound Recordings #

Type of literary text on spoken word sound recordings.

# = Item is a music sound recording

a = Autobiography

b = Biography

d = Drama

e = Essays

f = Fiction

i = Instruction (How to…)

k = Comedy

m = Memoirs

Orig – Form of Original Item #

Original physical form of the serial.

# = None of the following

e = Newspaper format

o = Online

q = Direct electronic

s = Electronic

Part – Music Parts #

Whether the item is, or contains parts.

# = No parts

d = Instrumental and vocal parts

e = Instrumental parts

f = Vocal parts

n = No applicable (This item is NOT notated music)

Regl – Regularity #

Intended regularity of the continuing resource.

n = Normalized irregular (e.g. each month except December and January)

r = Regular

u = Unknown regularity

x = Completely irregular

SrTp – Type of Continuing Resource #

Type of continuing resource.

# = None of the following.

g = Magazine

n = Newspaper

p = Periodical

s = Newsletter

Tech – Technique #

Technique used to create motion for videorecordings.

a = Animation (primarily)

c = Mix of animation and live action

l = Live action (primarily)

n = Not applicable

u = Unknown

Time – Running Time #

Running time for videorecordings. Three-digit numbers are used in minute form.

000 = Running time exceeds three characters

001-999 = Running time in minutes

TrAr – Transposition and Arrangement #

Whether all or part of the item is a transposition or arrangement of another work.

# = No arrangement or transposition or not specified

a = Transposition

b = Arrangement

c = Both transposed and arranged

Type – Item Type #

Defines the “type” of item being cataloged.

a = Language material (books, microfiche, audio-enabled devices, large print books)

c = Notated music (Scores)

d = Manuscript notated music (Scores)

e = Maps and atlases

f = Braille

g = Projected mediums (Audiovisual recordings – film and television)

i = Spoken audio recordings (Audiobooks)

j = Musical audio recordings (CD music)

k = Art

m = Computer file (video games)

p = Kit

r = Realia (Equipment, tabletop games, and objects)

t = Manuscript language material

TMat – Type of Visual Material #

Type of visual material being described.

b = Kit

c = Art reproduction

g = Game

r = Realia

v = Videorecording

w = Toy

z = Other