MARC PROPOSAL NO. 2009-03

1. BACKGROUND

Most libraries in Spain have been using an adapted version of the MARC 21 bibliographic, authority and holdings formats called IBERMARC. The Biblioteca Nacional de España (National Library of Spain) is currently implementing a new ILS system and it had to convert its data into MARC 21. In its authority records, the Biblioteca Nacional de España includes the Universal Decimal Classification Number (UDC) for personal names, corporate bodies, series and in almost all subject records, since Spanish libraries use UDC for classification of bibliographic resources. Field 080 is defined in the MARC 21 Bibliographic Format, but not in the MARC 21 Authority Format.

2. DISCUSSION

The MARC 21 Authority Format has several fields for classification numbers, which are used in authority records for various purposes. For instance, these fields may be used to indicate the classification number for a particular subject or person. In the Authority Format there are separate fields for different classification scheme numbers, mirroring much of what is in the MARC bibliographic format. Included are:

• 050 - Library of Congress Call Number
• 053 - LC Classification Number
• 055 - Library and Archives Canada Call Number
• 060 - National Library of Medicine Call Number
• 065 - Other Classification Number
• 070 - National Agricultural Library Call Number
• 082 - Dewey Decimal Call Number
• 083 - Dewey Decimal Classification Number
• 086 - Government Document Call Number
• 087 - Government Document Classification Number

In the MARC 21 Bibliographic Format there are additional classification number fields available, including field 080 (Universal Decimal Classification Number), which is defined as follows:

• First indicator - Undefined
• Second indicator - Undefined

• $a - Universal Decimal Classification number (NR)
• $b - Item number (NR)
• $x - Common auxiliary subdivision (R)
• $2 - Edition identifier (NR)
• $6 - Linkage (NR)
• $8 - Field link and sequence number (R)

In the authority format some classification fields have a field both for classification number and call number (i.e. call number includes the item part). In general call number fields have been used in the authority format for series authority records, where an item part is necessary (recorded in subfield $b), while classification number fields are used for subjects. In the case of UDC for MARC 21 authority records, the National Library of Spain prefers use of a single field. The field in the bibliographic format is defined as “Universal Decimal Classification Number”, although it has a $b for Item number, which would allow for a call number. In the bibliographic format some of these classification fields are called “call number”and others “classification”, but there is only one or the other defined.

In addition, the NLS would like to be able to indicate full abridged editions that are used in the classification number, as in the first indicator in field 082 (Dewey Classification Number). To keep the two fields in sync, field 080 in the bibliographic format could add a first indicator value as follows. Value blank would be included for existing records.

• First indicator - Type of edition
  • # - No information provided
    • 0 - Full edition
    • 1 - Abridged edition

3. PROPOSED CHANGES

In the MARC 21 Authority Format, define field 080 (Universal Decimal Classification Number) as follows:

• 080 Universal Decimal Classification Number
  • 1st indicator - Type of edition
    • # - No information provided
    • 0 - Full edition
    • 1 - Abridged edition
  • 2nd indicator - Undefined
  • 
    $a - Universal Decimal Classification number (NR)
  • $b - Item number (NR)
  • $x - Common auxiliary subdivision (R)
  • $2 - Edition identifier (NR)
  • $6 - Linkage (NR)
  • $8 - Field link and sequence number (R)

In the MARC 21 Bibliographic Format, add a first indicator value to field 080 as above.