Leader (NR)
MARC 21 Bibliographic
October 2007
Indicators and Subfield CodesHas no indicators or subfield codes; the data elements are positionally defined.
Character Positions
00-04 - Record length
05 - Record status
a - Increase in encoding level c - Corrected or revised d - Deleted n - New p - Increase in encoding level from prepublication
06 - Type of record
a - Language material c - Notated music d - Manuscript notated music e - Cartographic material f - Manuscript cartographic material g - Projected medium i - Nonmusical sound recording j - Musical sound recording k - Two-dimensional nonprojectable graphic m - Computer file o - Kit p - Mixed materials r - Three-dimensional artifact or naturally occurring object t - Manuscript language material
07 - Bibliographic level
a - Monographic component part b - Serial component part c - Collection d - Subunit i - Integrating resource m - Monograph/Item s - Serial
08 - Type of control
# - No specified type a - Archival
09 - Character coding scheme
# - MARC-8 a - UCS/Unicode
10 - Indicator count
11 - Subfield code count |
12-16 - Base address of data
[number] - Length of Leader and Directory
17 - Encoding level
# - Full level 1 - Full level, material not examined 2 - Less-than-full level, material not examined 3 - Abbreviated level 4 - Core level 5 - Partial (preliminary) level 7 - Minimal level 8 - Prepublication level u - Unknown z - Not applicable
18 - Descriptive cataloging form
# - Non-ISBD a - AACR 2 i - ISBD u - Unknown
19 - Multipart resource record level
# - Not specified or not applicable
a - Set
b - Part with independent title
c - Part with dependent title
20 - Length of the length-of-field portion
4 - Number of characters in the length-of-field portion of a Directory entry
21 - Length of the starting-character-position portion
5 - Number of characters in the starting-character-position portion of a Directory
entry
22 - Length of the implementation-defined portion
0 - Number of characters in the implementation-defined portion of a Directory entry
23 - Undefined
0 - Undefined
|
FIELD DEFINITION AND SCOPE
Fixed field that comprises the first 24 character positions (00-23) of each
bibliographic record and consists of data elements that contain numbers or coded values
that define the parameters for the processing of the record.
Character positions 20-23 comprise the Entry map for the Directory. They contain four
one-character numbers that specify the structure of the entries in the Directory. More
detailed information about the structure of the Leader is contained in MARC 21 Specifications for Record
Structure, Character Sets, and Exchange Media.
GUIDELINES FOR APPLYING CONTENT DESIGNATORS
■ CHARACTER POSITIONS
00-04 - Record length Computer-generated, five-character number equal to the length of the entire
record, including itself and the record terminator. The number is right justified
and unused positions contain zeros.
05 - Record status One-character alphabetic code that indicates the relationship of the record to a
file for file maintenance purposes.
a - Increase in encoding level Encoding level (Leader/17) of the record has been changed to a higher encoding
level.
Indicates an increase in the level of cataloging (e.g., code a is used when a
preliminary cataloging record (code 5 in Leader/17) is raised to full
cataloging level (code # in Leader/17)).
c - Corrected or revised Addition/change other than in the Encoding level code has been made to the
record.
d - Deleted Record has been deleted.
n - New Record is newly input.
p - Increase in encoding level from prepublication Prepublication record has had a change in cataloging level resulting from the
availability of the published item.
Example: a CIP record (code 8 in Leader/17)) upgraded to a full record (code #
or 1 in Leader/17.)
06 - Type of record One-character alphabetic code used to define the characteristics and components of
the record.
Used to differentiate MARC records created for various types of content and
material and to determine the appropriateness and validity of certain data
elements in the record.
Microforms, whether original or reproductions, are not identified by a distinctive
Type of record code. The type of content characteristics described by the codes
take precedence over the microform characteristics of the item. Computer files are
identified by a distinctive Type of record code only if they belong to certain
categories of electronic resources as specified below; in all other cases the type
of content characteristics described by the other codes take precedence over the
computer file characteristics of the item.
Determination of the code for a multi-item bibliographic entity (types of material
are those specified by values a through t below):
Items are multiple forms of material
- o (Kit) - entity is issued as a single unit; no type of material
predominates
- p (Mixed materials) - entity is a made-up collection; no type of material
predominates
- other codes - entity is a made-up collection; one type of material
predominates
Items are all one form of material
- any except o or p - all cases
a - Language material Used for non-manuscript language material. Manuscript language material uses
code t.
Includes microforms and electronic resources that are basically textual in
nature, whether they are reproductions from print or originally produced.
c - Notated music Used for printed, microform, or electronic notated music.
d - Manuscript notated music Used for manuscript notated music or a microform of manuscript music.
e - Cartographic material Used for non-manuscript cartographic material or a microform of non-manuscript
cartographic material.
Includes maps, atlases, globes, digital maps, and other cartographic items.
f - Manuscript cartographic material Used for manuscript cartographic material or a microform of manuscript
cartographic material.
g - Projected medium Used for motion pictures, videorecordings (including digital video),
filmstrips, slide, transparencies or material specifically designed for
projection.
Material specifically designed for overhead projection is also included in this
type of record category.
i - Nonmusical sound recording Used for a recording of nonmusical sounds (e.g., speech).
j - Musical sound recording Used for a musical sound recording (e.g., phonodiscs, compact discs, or
cassette tapes.
k - Two-dimensional nonprojectable graphic Used for two-dimensional nonprojectable graphics such as, activity cards,
charts, collages, computer graphics, digital pictures, drawings, duplication
masters, flash cards, paintings, photo CDs, photomechanical reproductions,
photonegatives, photoprints, pictures, postcards, posters, prints, spirit
masters, study prints, technical drawings, transparency masters, and
reproductions of any of these.
m - Computer file Used for the following classes of electronic resources: computer software
(including programs, games, fonts), numeric data, computer-oriented multimedia,
online systems or services. For these classes of materials, if there is a
significant aspect that causes it to fall into another Leader/06 category, the
code for that significant aspect is used instead of code m (e.g., vector data
that is cartographic is not coded as numeric but as cartographic). Other
classes of electronic resources are coded for their most significant aspect
(e.g. language material, graphic, cartographic material, sound, music, moving
image). In case of doubt or if the most significant aspect cannot be
determined, consider the item a computer file.
o - Kit Used for a mixture of various components issued as a unit and intended
primarily for instructional purposes where no one item is the predominant
component of the kit.
Examples are packages of assorted materials, such as a set of school social
studies curriculum material (books, workbooks, guides, activities, etc.), or
packages of educational test materials (tests, answer sheets, scoring guides,
score charts, interpretative manuals, etc.).
p - Mixed materials Used when there are significant materials in two or more forms that are usually
related by virtue of their having been accumulated by or about a person or
body. Includes archival fonds and manuscript collections of mixed forms of
materials, such as text, photographs, and sound recordings.
Intended primary purpose is other than for instructional purposes (i.e., other
than the purpose of those materials coded as o (Kit)).
r - Three-dimensional artifact or naturally occurring object Includes man-made objects such as models, dioramas, games, puzzles,
simulations, sculptures and other three-dimensional art works, exhibits,
machines, clothing, toys, and stitchery. Also includes naturally occurring
objects such as, microscope specimens (or representations of them) and other
specimens mounted for viewing.
t - Manuscript language material Used for manuscript language material or a microform of manuscript language
material. This category is applied to items for language material in
handwriting, typescript, or computer printout including printed materials
completed by hand or by keyboard. At the time it is created, this material is
usually intended, either implicitly or explicitly, to exist as a single
instance. Examples include marked or corrected galley and page proofs,
manuscript books, legal papers, and unpublished theses and dissertations.
07 - Bibliographic level One-character alphabetic code indicating the bibliographic level of the
record.
a - Monographic component part Monographic bibliographic unit that is physically attached to or contained in
another unit such that the retrieval of the component part is dependent on the
identification and location of the host item or container. Contains fields that
describe the component part and data that identify the host, field 773 (Host
Item Entry).
Examples of monographic component parts with corresponding host items include
an article in a single issue of a periodical, a chapter in a book, a band on a
phonodisc, and a map on a single sheet that contains several maps.
b - Serial component part Serial bibliographic unit that is physically attached to or contained in
another unit such that the retrieval of the component part is dependent on the
identification and location of the host item or container. Contains fields that
describe the component part and data that identify the host, field 773 (Host
Item Entry).
Example of a serial component part with corresponding host item is a regularly
appearing column or feature in a periodical.
c - Collection Made-up multipart group of items that were not originally published,
distributed, or produced together. The record describes units defined by common
provenance or administrative convenience for which the record is intended as
the most comprehensive in the system.
d - Subunit Part of collection, especially an archival unit described collectively
elsewhere in the system. Contains fields that describe the subunit and data
that identify the host item.
Subunits may be items, folders, boxes, archival series, subgroups, or
subcollections.
i - Integrating resource Bibliographic resource that is added to or changed by means of updates that do
not remain discrete and are integrated into the whole. Examples include
updating loose-leafs and updating Web sites.
Integrating resources may be finite or continuing.
m - Monograph/Item Item either complete in one part (e.g., a single monograph, a single map, a
single manuscript, etc.) or intended to be completed, in a finite number of
separate parts (e.g., a multivolume monograph, a sound recording with multiple
tracks, etc.).
s - Serial Bibliographic item issued in successive parts bearing numerical or
chronological designations and intended to be continued indefinitely. Includes
periodicals; newspapers; annuals (reports, yearbooks, etc.); the journals,
memoirs, proceedings, transactions, etc., of societies; and numbered
monographic series, etc.
08 - Type of control # - No specified type No type applies to the item being described.
a - Archival Material is described according to archival descriptive rules, which focus on
the contextual relationships between items and on their provenance rather than
on bibliographic detail. The specific set of rules for description may be found
in field 040, subfield $e. All forms of material can be controlled
archivally.
09 - Character coding scheme Identifies the character coding scheme used in the record.
a - UCS/Unicode Character coding in the record makes use of characters from the Universal Coded
Character Set (UCS) (ISO 10646), or Unicode™, an industry subset.
10 - Indicator count Computer-generated number 2 that indicates the number of character positions used
for indicators in a variable data field.
An indicator character position contains a code which conveys information that
interprets or supplements the data found in the field. In MARC 21, two character
positions at the beginning of each variable data field are reserved for
indicators; therefore, the Indicator count is always 2.
2 - Number of character positions used for indicators
11 - Subfield code count Computer-generated number 2 that indicates the number of character positions used
for each subfield code in a variable data field.
Each data element in a variable data field is identified by a subfield code. In
MARC 21, a subfield code consists of a delimiter ($) and a lowercase
alphabetic or numeric data element identifier; therefore, the Subfield code count
is always 2.
2 - Number of character positions used for a subfield code
12-16 - Base address of data Computer-generated, five-character numeric string that indicates the first
character position of the first variable control field in a record. The number is
right justified and each unused position contains a zero.
The number is the base from which the starting character position of all the other
fields in the record is addressed in the Directory. (The starting character
position in the Directory entry for each field of the record is relative to the
first character of the first variable control field rather than the beginning of
the record.) The Base address of data is equal to the sum of the lengths of the
Leader and the Directory, including the field terminator character at the end of
the Directory.
[number] - Length of Leader and Directory
17 - Encoding level One-character alphanumeric code that indicates the fullness of the bibliographic
information and/or content designation of the MARC record.
# - Full level Most complete MARC record created from information derived from an inspection
of the physical item.
For serials, at least one issue of the serial is inspected.
1 - Full level, material not examined Next most complete MARC record after the full level created from information
derived from an extant description of the item (e.g., a printed catalog card or
a description in an institutional guide) without reinspection of the physical
item. Used primarily in the retrospective conversion of records when all of the
information on the extant description is transcribed. Certain control field
coding and other data (e.g., field 043 (Geographic Area Code)) are based only
on explicit information in the description.
2 - Less-than-full level, material not examined Less-than-full level record (i.e., a record that falls between minimal level
and full) created from an extant description of the material (e.g., a printed
catalog card) without reinspection of the physical item. Used primarily in the
retrospective conversion of records when all of the descriptive access points
but only a specified subset of other data elements are transcribed.
Authoritative headings may not be current.
3 - Abbreviated level Brief record that does not meet minimal level cataloging specifications.
Headings in the records may reflect established forms to the extent that such
forms were available at the time the record was created.
4 - Core level Less-than-full but greater-than-minimal level cataloging record that meets core
record standards for completeness.
5 - Partial (preliminary) level Preliminary cataloging level record that is not considered final by the
creating agency (e.g., the headings may not reflect established forms; the
record may not meet national-level cataloging specifications).
7 - Minimal level Record that meets the U.S. National Level Bibliographic Record minimal level
cataloging specifications and is considered final by the creating agency.
Headings have been checked against an authority file and reflect established
forms to the extent that such forms were available at the time the minimal
level record was created. The U.S. requirements for minimal-level records can
be found in
National Level and Minimal
Level Record Requirements
8 - Prepublication level Prepublication level record. Includes records created in cataloging in
publication programs.
u - Unknown Used by an agency receiving or sending data with a local code in Leader/17
cannot adequately determine the appropriate encoding level of the record. Code
u thus replaces the local code. Not used in newly input or updated records.
For example, code u is used in Dublin Core originated records.
z - Not applicable Concept of encoding level does not apply to the record.
18 - Descriptive cataloging form One-character alphanumeric code that indicates characteristics of the descriptive
data in the record through reference to cataloging norms. Subfield $e
(Description conventions) of field 040 (Cataloging Source) may contain additional
information on the cataloging conventions used.
Code particularly indicates whether the descriptive part of the record exemplifies
the rules of the International Standard Bibliographic Description (ISBD),
either within or outside of the framework of the Anglo-American Cataloguing
Rules, 2nd Edition (AACR 2).
# - Non-ISBD Descriptive portion of the record does not follow International Standard
Bibliographic Description (ISBD) cataloging and punctuation
provisions.
Examples of cataloging rules that do not follow ISBD conventions are:
Catalog Rules, Author and Title Entries (1908); A.L.A. Catalog
Rules, Author and Title Entries (1941); A.L.A. Cataloging Rules for
Author and Title Entries (1949); and Anglo-American Cataloguing
Rules, 1st Edition (AACR 1) (except the revised chapters).
a - AACR 2 Descriptive portion of the record and the choice and form of entry of the
access points are formulated according to either the second edition of the
Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, 2nd Edition (AACR 2) or
cataloging manuals based on AACR 2, which follow ISBD in their descriptive
cataloging sections. The punctuation practices of ISBD apply.
The interpretation of AACR 2 contained in the AACR 2-based manuals primarily
affects details concerning description; the access points generally remain
consistent with AACR 2. Access points follow AACR 2 as to choice and form of
entry.
i - ISBD Descriptive portion of the record is formulated according to the descriptive
and punctuation provisions of ISBD. Heading forms are not formulated according
to AACR 2.
Includes: 1) records that use ISBD punctuation but whose other conventions are
unknown; 2) new records that are basically formulated according to AACR 2 but
contain heading forms not used under those rules; 3) records exemplifying ISBD
punctuation practices applied to pre-AACR 2 records; and 4) records done
according to AACR 1 revised chapter 6, Separately Published Monographs.
u - Unknown Institution receiving or sending data in Leader/18 cannot adequately determine
the appropriate descriptive cataloging form used in the record. May be used in
records converted from another metadata format.
19 - Multipart resource record level
Record level to which a resource pertains and any record dependencies. This
information will facilitate processing the record in different situations. For
example, the record may describe a set of items, or it may describe a part of a
set. The part may only have a dependent title to be used for identification
purposes thus requiring use of additional information to understand its
context.
# - Not specified or not applicable The distinction between record levels is not specified or not applicable for
the type of resource.
a - Set Record is for a set consisting of multiple items.
b - Part with independent title The record is for a resource which is part of a set and has a title that allows it
to be independent of the set record.
c - Part with dependent title
The record is for a resource which is part of a set but has a title that makes it
dependent on the set record to understand its context.
20 - Length of the length-of-field portion Always contains a 4.
4 - Number of characters in the length-of-field portion of a Directory entry
21 - Length of the starting-character-position portion Always contains a 5.
5 - Number of characters in the starting-character-position portion of a Directory
entry
22 - Length of the implementation-defined portion Always contains a 0.
0 - Number of characters in the implementation-defined portion of a Directory entry
23 - Undefined
Always contains a 0.
0 - Undefined
INPUT CONVENTIONS
System-Generated Elements - Following Leader elements are usually system generated:
00-04 |
Logical record length |
05 |
Record status |
09 |
Character coding scheme |
10 |
Indicator count |
11 |
Subfield code count |
12-16 |
Base address of data |
19 |
Linked record requirement |
20-23 |
Entry map |
It is common for default values in other Leader elements to be generated automatically
as well.
Dependencies
Field 008/18-34 Configuration
If Leader/06 = a and Leader/07 = a, c, d, or m: Books
If Leader/06 = a and Leader/07 = b, i, or s: Continuing Resources
If Leader/06 = t: Books
If Leader/06 = c, d, i, or j: Music
If Leader/06 = e, or f: Maps
If Leader/06 = g, k, o, or r: Visual Materials
If Leader/06 = m: Computer Files
If Leader/06 = p: Mixed Materials
Capitalization - Alphabetic codes are input as lowercase letters.
CONTENT DESIGNATOR HISTORY
06 - Type of record
b - Archival and manuscripts control [OBSOLETE, 1995]
h - Microform publications [OBSOLETE, 1972] [USMARC only]
n - Special instructional material [OBSOLETE, 1983]
07 - Bibliographic level
p - Pamphlet [OBSOLETE, 1988] [CAN/MARC only]
i - Integrating resource [NEW, 2001]
08 - Type of control [NEW, 1995]
17 - Encoding level
0 - Full level with item [OBSOLETE, 1997] [CAN/MARC only]
6 - Minimal level [OBSOLETE, 1997] [CAN/MARC only]
18 - Descriptive cataloging form
p - Record is in partial ISBD form [OBSOLETE, 1987]
r - Record is in provisional form [OBSOLETE, 1981]
19 - Linked-record code [REDEFINED, 2007]
# - Related record not required [REDEFINED, 2007]
a - Set [NEW, 2007]
b - Part with independent title [NEW, 2007]
c - Part with dependent title [NEW, 2007]
r - Linked record requirement [OBSOLETE, 2007]
2 - Open entry for a collection [OBSOLETE, 1984] [CAN/MARC only]