The Library of Congress >> Especially for Librarians and Archivists >> Standards

MARC Format Overview

This page provides summary status information relating to the MARC formats and related code lists published by the Network Development and MARC Standards Office.

Format documents. The principal documentation for the formats are the full printed versions. A brief version containing all five formats in concise form is available in print form and an electronic concise version of each format is available on the Web. Electronic (ASCII) field lists are also on the Web.

Official version. The full print format is the Official standard for the format. Each full format consists of a base text (designated by month and year) and updates (designated by number, month, and year). Format changes noted below as occurring since the last format update should not be used in records until they are published in the full print MARC format documentation.

Other versions. The electronic concise and field lists are updated shortly after each update to an Official (full print) version is published. In case of any differences, the Official (full print) is the standard. The print concise is updated on a 12-24 months cycle, therefore it may be slightly out of synch with the Official version.

Code lists. The code lists are issued from time to time to incorporate additions and changes. Code additions or changes cited below may be used immediately, or as indicated in the announcement, in MARC records. They will appear in the next print edition of the code list. Electronic versions of the code lists are available on the Web.

Bibliographic Format Documentation

MARC 21 Format for Bibliographic Data (print). Official English version with full descriptions, examples, and guidelines.

Base text (February 1999) (List of changes included )
[Supersedes Base text (March 1994) and Updates 1-3 (1995-1997), and previous published format documents]
Update No. 1 (October 2000) (List of changes included )
Update No. 2 (October 2001) (List of changes included )
Update No. 3 (October 2002) (List of changes included )
Update No. 4 (October 2003) (List of changes included )
Update No. 5 (October 2004) (List of changes included)
Update No. 6 (October 2005) (List of changes included)
Update No. 7 (October 2006) (List of changes included)

MARC 21 Concise Formats: Bibliographic Data section (2005 edition) (print). Concise version with examples and brief descriptions. Includes through 1999 Base text, Update No. 1, Update No. 2, Update No. 3, Update No. 4, Update No. 5, Update No. 6 and Update No. 7.

MARC 21 Concise Bibliographic Format. Electronic version of Concise. Includes all data elements in Official version.

MARC 21 Bibliographic Format Field List. Electronic list of fields, subfields, and values only. Includes all data elements in Official version.

Changes since last update

Next update: Fourth Quarter 2007

Authority Format Documentation

MARC 21 Format for Authority Data (print). Official English version with full descriptions, examples, and guidelines.

Base text (October 1999) ( List of changes included )
[Supersedes Base text (May 1993) and Updates 1-2 (1993-1997), and previous published format documents]
Update No. 1 (October 2000) (List of changes included )
Update No. 2 (October 2001) (List of changes included )
Update No. 3 (October 2002) (List of changes included )
Update No. 4 (October 2003) (List of changes included )
Update No. 5 (October 2004) (List of changes included)
Update No. 6 (October 2005) (List of changes included)
Update No. 7 (October 2006) (List of changes included)

MARC 21 Concise Formats: Authority Data section (2005 edition) (print). Concise version with examples and brief descriptions. Includes through 1999 Base text, Update No. 1, Update No. 2, Update No. 3, Update No. 4, Update No. 5, Update No. 6 and Update No. 7.

MARC 21 Concise Authority Format. Electronic version of Concise. Includes all data elements in Official version.

MARC 21 Authority Format Field List. Electronic list of fields, subfields, and values only. Includes all data elements in Official version.

Changes since last update

Next update: Fourth Quarter 2007

Holdings Format Documentation

MARC 21 Format for Holdings Data (print). Official version with full descriptions, examples, and guidelines.

Base text (January 2000) (List of changes included )
Update No. 1 (October 2000) (List of changes included )
Update No. 2 (October 2001) (List of changes included )
Update No. 3 (October 2002) (List of changes included )
Update No. 4 (October 2003) (List of changes included )
Update No. 5 (October 2004) (List of changes included)
Update No. 6 (October 2005) (List of changes included)
Update No. 7 (October 2006) (List of changes included)

MARC 21 Concise Formats: Holdings Data section (2005 edition) (print). Concise version with examples and brief descriptions. Includes through 2000 Base text, Update No. 1, Update No. 2, Update No. 3, Update No. 4, Update No. 5, Update No. 6 and Update No. 7.

MARC 21 Concise Holdings Format. Electronic version of Concise. Includes all data elements in Official version.

MARC 21 Holdings Format Field List . Electronic list of fields, subfields, and values only. Includes all data elements in Official version.

Changes since last update

Next update: Fourth Quarter 2007

Classification Format Documentation

MARC 21 Format for Classification Data (print). Official version with full descriptions, examples, and guidelines.

Base text (January 2000) (List of changes included) )
Update No. 1 (October 2000) (List of changes included )
Update No. 2 (October 2001) (List of changes included )
Update No. 3 (October 2002) (List of changes included )
Update No. 4 (October 2003) (List of changes included )
Update No. 5 (October 2004) (List of changes included)
Update No. 6 (October 2005) (List of changes included)
Update No. 7 (October 2006) (List of changes included)

MARC 21 Concise Format: Classification Data section (2004 edition) (print). Concise version with examples and brief descriptions. Includes through 2000 Base text, Update No. 1, Update No. 2, Update No. 3, Update No. 4, Update No. 5, Update No. 6 and Update No. 7.

MARC 21 Concise Classification Format. Electronic version of Concise. Includes all data elements in Official version.

MARC 21 Classification Format Field List. Electronic list of fields, subfields, and values only. Includes all data elements in Official version.

Changes since last update

Next update: Fourth Quarter 2007

Community Information Format Documentation

MARC 21 Format for Community Information (print). Official version with full descriptions, examples, and guidelines.

Base text (January 2000) (List of changes included )
Update No. 1 (October 2000) (List of changes included )
Update No. 2 (October 2001) (List of changes included )
Update No. 3 (October 2002) (List of changes included )
Update No. 4 (October 2003) (List of changes included )
Update No. 5 (October 2004) (List of changes included)
Update No. 6 (October 2005) (List of changes included)
Update No. 7 (October 2006) (List of changes included)

MARC 21 Concise Formats: Community Information Data section (2004 edition) (print). Concise version with examples and brief descriptions. Includes through 2000 Base text, Update No. 1, Update No. 2, Update No. 3, Update No. 4, Update No. 5, Update No. 6 and Update No. 7.

MARC 21 Concise Community Information Format. Electronic version of Concise. Includes all data elements in Official version.

MARC 21 Community Information Format Field List. Electronic list of fields, subfields, and values only. Includes all data elements in Official version.

Changes since last update

Next update: Fourth Quarter 2007

Country Code List Documentation

MARC Code List for Countries (2003 edition) (print). Listings by country name with cross references and by code.

Changes included in 2003 edition

Changes since 2003 edition