DOCUMENTATION
MARC Harmonization - Impact on the CAN/MARC Bibliographic and Authority Formats
As of May 21, 2004, the National Library of Canada (NLC) and the National Archives of Canada (NAC) became Library and Archives Canada (LAC).
Standards and Support
NATIONAL LIBRARY OF CANADA
June 1997
[PDF 48 KB]
The purpose of this document is to provide a summary of the format decisions taken to
align the CAN/MARC and USMARC formats. It is addressed to those involved with
system implementation of the changes. Although format harmonization will not take
place before summer of 1998, this document is intended to allow those libraries with
CAN/MARC-based systems sufficient time to assess the impact of the changes and to
plan for implementation.
Origins of harmonization of the CAN/MARC and USMARC formats
In November of 1994 a process to align the USMARC, CAN/MARC, and UKMARC
formats was initiated by representatives from the British Library (BL), the Library of
Congress (LC), and the National Library of Canada (NLC). It was agreed that format
harmonization would have numerous benefits including easier and more efficient record
exchange, elimination of the need for conversion programs, and potential reductions in
the expense of format maintenance and documentation.
Discussion papers and proposals
The Canadian Committee on MARC (CCM) met in June 1995 and October 1995 to
review a document outlining the differences between CAN/MARC and USMARC in
order to determine potential changes to the CAN/MARC format to achieve format
harmonization with USMARC. The Committee agreed to a substantial number of
changes affecting approximately fifty fixed field character positions and variable fields
defined in the CAN/MARC bibliographic and authority formats.
MARBI discussion Paper No. 93 (January/February 1996) focused on the
harmonization of CAN/MARC formats and presented a small number of differences for
which CCM suggested a change to USMARC to accomplish alignment. Following
consideration of the proposals for changes outlined in the discussion paper, a joint
NLC/LC proposal was presented to MARBI for consideration at its July 1996 meeting.
Nine sub-proposals were approved; eight sub-proposals were deferred. The proposals
concerning authority formats were not discussed due to time constraints.
The sub-proposals which were deferred or not discussed were reviewed at the
February 1997 MARBI meeting. Decisions regarding the alignment of CAN/MARC and
USMARC were reached at this meeting. Following the approval of CCM, CAN/MARC
and USMARC harmonization was accomplished.
Format harmonization listing
The following list indicates changes to the CAN/MARC format which have been agreed
to in order to achieve a harmonized CAN/MARC-USMARC format. There are two parts
to the list. The first part covers changes to the bibliographic format and the second
concerns changes to the authority format.
It is important to note that this is a summary document only; only those data elements
that require some change have been included. If a particular value in an 008 byte or a
particular field is not included, it will be retained in the harmonized format. The list
should be used in conjunction with the Canadian MARC communication format for
bibliographic data and the Canadian MARC communication format: authorities in order
to ensure that a complete picture of the harmonized format is obtained.
The type of changes required in the alignment process are: name changes, new
content designators, obsolete content designators and deleted content designators.
The following conventions have been used to indicate the nature of the change:
- Name changes are indicated by italics; former names/parts of names are lined out.
- New content designators are indicated by italics. New fields also carry the word [NEW] following their name.
- Obsolete content designators are flagged with the word [OBSOLETE]. (Obsolete
content designators may exist in older records but should not be used in newly-input
records. NLC is currently assessing the extent of retrospective conversion to
undertake; if retrospective conversion is undertaken, obsolete values will not appear
in any records distributed by NLC. More information on NLC's plans will be made
available at a later date).
- Deleted content designators are indicated by the word [DELETE].
Notes are included in several places to provide additional explanation of why the
change was made or to indicate where information should be coded if a CAN/MARC
field has been made obsolete.
For more information, please contact:
Standards and Support
National Library of Canada
Telephone: 819-994-6936
Email: canmarc@nlc-bnc.ca
Changes to CAN/MARC Bibliographic Format
LEADER
5
Record Status
a - Increase in encoding level Previously partial record
17
Encoding Level
0 - Full level with item [OBSOLETE]
# - Full level
1 - Full level, material not examined without item.
2 - Less than full level, material not examined
5 - Partial (preliminary level)
6 - Minimal level [OBSOLETE]
7 - Minimal level Preliminary record
8 - Prepublication level CIP record
007GL
1
Specific Material Designation (SMD)
b - Planetary or lunar globe (other than Earth) Planetary globe (of our solar system), excluding earth
c - Terrestrial globe (earth)
d - Satellite globe (of our solar system), excluding the earth moon [OBSOLETE]
e - Earth moon globe Lunar globe (earth moon)
007MAP
4
Physical Medium
e - Synthetic Synthetics except textiles (e.g., plastic, vinyl)
j - Glass
q - Flexible base photographic medium, positive
r - Flexible base photographic medium, negative
s - Non-flexible base photographic medium, positive
t - Non-flexible base photographic medium, negative
y - Other photographic medium
6
Production/Reproduction Details
c - Pre-production (e.g., proof sheets)
008
38
Modified Record
d - "Dashed-on" information omitted Record without the "dashed-on" data found on the corresponding LC catalogue record
x - Missing characters Record contents changed by substitution of unusual characters (e.g., special symbols in mathematics, non-roman characters)
r - Completely romanized/printed cards in script Romanized record
o - Completely romanized/printed cards romanized
39
Cataloguing Source
# National Library of Canada cataloguing
# - National bibliographic agency
d Another national library cataloguing
d - Other
l - Library of Congress cataloguing [OBSOLETE]
o - Other institution cataloguing [OBSOLETE]
r - Reporting library [OBSOLETE]
40
Fill Character Usage [OBSOLETE]
008BK
24-27
Nature of Contents
a - Abstracts/summaries
k - Official standards
k - Discographies
m - Theses Thesis
o - Reviews Book reviews
q - Examination papers
q - Filmographies
t - Technical reports
x - Technical reports [OBSOLETE]
3 - Discographies [OBSOLETE]
4 - Filmographies [OBSOLETE]
33
Literary Form Type of Literary Text
0 - Not fiction (not further specified)
1 - Fiction (not further specified)
# - Non-fiction [OBSOLETE]
f - Novels Fiction
m - Mixed forms Miscellaneous information
u - Unknown
008CM
18-21
Relief
c - Gradient and Bathymetric tints
h - Colour [OBSOLETE]
m - Rock drawings
u - Unknown [OBSOLETE]
22-23
Map Projection
Azimuthal Projections
an - Chamberlin trimetric
Other Projections
dl - Lambert conformal
24-25
Prime Meridian [DELETE]
24
Undefined
25
Type of cartographic material [NEW]
a - Single map
b - Map series
c - Map serial
d - Globe
e - Atlas
f - Separate supplement to another work
g - Bound as part of another work
u - Unknown
z - Other
30
Narrative Text [OBSOLETE] UNDEFINED
31
Index
0 - No index No location index or gazetteer present
1 - Index present Index or gazetteer on cartographic item
2 - Index or gazetteer accompanies cartographic item [OBSOLETE]
008MSR
24-27
Accompanying Textual Matter
24-29
Accompanying Matter
j - Historical information other than music [OBSOLETE]
l - Biography of arranger or transcriber [OBSOLETE]
s - Music Score
28
Government Publication [DELETE]
29
Blank [OBSOLETE]
008SE
24
Nature of Entire Work
a - Abstracts/summaries (apart from its own)
i - Indexes (apart from its own)
k - Discographies
m - Theses
o - Reviews Book reviews
p - Programmed texts textbooks
q - Filmographies
t - University calendars
t - Technical reports
x - Technical reports (e.g., research series)
3 - Discographies [OBSOLETE]
4 - Filmographies [OBSOLETE]
z - Treaties
25-27
Nature of Contents
a - Abstracts/summaries (apart from its own)
i - Indexes (apart from its own)
k - Discographies
m - Theses
o - Reviews Book reviews
p - Programmed texts textbooks
q - Filmographies
t - University calendars
t - Technical reports
x - Technical reports (e.g., research series)
3 - Discographies [OBSOLETE]
4 - Filmographies [OBSOLETE]
z - Treaties
008VM
23
Form of Item [OBSOLETE]
24-27
Accompanying Material [OBSOLETE]
009CM
Cartographic Material - Physical Description Fixed Field (Detailed) [OBSOLETE]
016 National Library of Canada Record Control Number
National Bibliographic Agency Control Number
First indicator
# NLC Undefined
7 Agency identified in $2
Subfield codes
$a Record control number NLC record control number
$z R Cancelled/invalid NLC record control number
$2 Source of control number
THE FIELD HAS BEEN BROADENED TO CARRY OTHER NATIONAL BIBLIOGRAPHIC AGENCY CONTROL NUMBERS. FIELD 010 WILL CONTINUE TO BE USED FOR THE LC CONTROL NUMBER.
024 R Other Standard Number or Code
Second indicator
0 No difference Eye-readable
1 Difference Scanned if different from eye-readable number
028 R Publisher Number for Music and Videorecordings
Second indicator
0 Print a note
0 No note, no added entry
1 Do not print a note
1 Note, added entry required
2 Note, no added entry
3 No note, added entry required
Subfield codes
$a Publisher number Number
NLC WILL CONVERT CAN/MARC VALUE 0 TO NEW VALUE 2 AND CAN/MARC VALUE 1 TO NEW VALUE 0.
034 R Coded Cartographic Mathematical Data
Subfield codes
$a - c Other type of scale [OBSOLETE]
$a - z Other type of scale
046 Type of Date Code, Date 1, Date 2 (B.C. Dates)
Subfield codes
$6 Linkage [OBSOLETE]
048 R Number of Musical Instruments or Voices Code
Keyboard
kf - Celesta (Keyboard)
Percussion
pf - Celesta [OBSOLETE]
056 R National Library of Canada Copy, Issue, Offprint Statement
[DELETE]
THIS FIELD HAS NEVER BEEN USED BY NLC.
082 R Dewey Decimal Call/Classification Number
Second indicator
# Information not provided Undefined
0 Assigned by LC
4 Assigned by agency other than LC
084 R Other Call Number Other Classification Numbers
Subfield codes
$6 Linkage
THIS FIELD WILL NOW INCLUDE CODOC NUMBERS FORMERLY CARRIED IN CAN/MARC FIELD 088.
086 R Government Document Classification Number
Second indicator [OBSOLETE]
087 R Report Number [OBSOLETE]
REPORT NUMBERS WILL BE CARRIED IN FIELD 088; NLC WILL UNDERTAKE A RETROSPECTIVE CONVERSION OF THIS FIELD.
088 R Report Number Document Shelving Number (CODOC)
CODOC NUMBERS WILL BE CARRIED IN FIELD 084; NLC WILL UNDERTAKE A RETROSPECTIVE CONVERSION OF THIS FIELD.
300 R Physical Description
Subfield codes
$d Accompanying material [OBSOLETE]
$e Accompanying material
$f Type of unit
355 Security Classification Control [NEW]
357 Originator Dissemination Control [NEW]
440 R Series Statement - Title (Traced)
Subfield codes
$h General material designation [OBSOLETE]
751 Geographic Name/Area Name Entry [OBSOLETE]
886 R Foreign MARC Information Field
First Indicator
# Undefined [OBSOLETE]
0 Leader
1 Control fields
2 Variable fields
Subfield codes
$b Content of the foreign MARC field Leader
$c Content of the foreign MARC control field 002-009 [OBSOLETE]
$d Content designators and data elements of the foreign MARC variable field 010-999 [OBSOLETE]
$2 Source of data
951 R Equivalence or Cross-Reference - Geographic Name/Area Name [OBSOLETE]
Changes to CAN/MARC Authorities Format
LEADER
5
Record Status
a - Increase in encoding level
d - Deleted (Other) Record deleted because heading is replaced by another heading
s - Deleted; heading split into two or more headings Record deleted because heading is replaced by two other headings
x - Deleted; heading replaced by another heading Record deleted (explanation may be present in field 682)
17
Encoding Level
n - Complete record
0 - Full level
1 - RECON record [OBSOLETE]
0 - Incomplete record
3 - Incomplete record [OBSOLETE]
003
Control Number Identifier [NEW]
008
7
Romanization Scheme
a - ALA - LC Romanization Tables
a - International standard
b - Larousse
b - National standard
c - ISO
c - National library association standard
d - Conventional romanization or conventional form of name in language of cataloguing
d - National library or bibliographic agency standard
e - Other transliteration tables, e.g., Eskimo
e - Local standard
x - Not romanized [OBSOLETE]
f - Standard of unknown origin
g - Conventional romanization or conventional form of name in language of cataloguing
agency
n - Not applicable
8
Language of use Bilingual usage
# - No information provided
b - English and French Headings valid in both French-language and English- language catalogues
e - English only Headings valid in English-language catalogues only; not valid in French-language catalogues
f - French only Headings valid in French-language catalogues only; not valid in English-language catalogues
g - Headings valid in English-language catalogues; validity in French-language catalogues undetermined [OBSOLETE]
h - Headings valid in French-language catalogues; validity in English-language catalogues undetermined [OBSOLETE]
10
Descriptive Cataloguing Rules
a - Earlier rules Pre-AACR1 rules (e.g., ALA Cataloging Rules for Author and Title Entries, superseded rules in AACR1, etc.)
b - AACR 1
c - Anglo-American Cataloging Rules, North American edition, 1967 (Applies also to Règles de catalogage anglo-américaines, 1973)
c - AACR 2
d - Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, 2nd edition, 1978 (Applies also to Règles de catalogage anglo-américaines, 2e édition, 1980)
d - AACR 2 compatible heading
e - Non-AACR2 form; decision to use with AACR2. This code is used in cases where the library creating the record has not been able to use the form of the heading called for by AACR2 and has had to modify that form [OBSOLETE]
f - Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, British edition, 1967 [OBSOLETE]
u - Unknown [OBSOLETE]
x - No specific rules [OBSOLETE]
11
Subject Heading System/Thesaurus
d - National Agricultural Library subject authority file U.S. National Agricultural Library (pre-1972 headings)
h - Hennepin County Library subject headings [OBSOLETE]
a - Library of Congress Subject Headings
l - Library of Congress Subject Headings [OBSOLETE]
t - Canadian supplement to Sears List of Subject Headings [OBSOLETE]
17
Type of Subject Subdivision
# - Value used before the definition of this byte [OBSOLETE]
28
Type of Government Agency
i - International intergovernmental International
a - Autonomous or semi-autonomous components of Malaysia Autonomous or semi-autonomous components of sovereign federations
s - State, provincial, territorial, dependent, etc. Provincial/state
p - Multijurisdictional (federal/provincial combinations or equivalent) [OBSOLETE]
q - Multijurisdictional (provincial/local combinations or equivalent) [OBSOLETE]
o - Government agency - type undetermined Level undetermined
30
Conference/Meeting [OBSOLETE]
39
Cataloguing Source
# - National bibliographic agency National Library of Canada
a - U.S. National Agricultural Library [OBSOLETE]
b - U.S. National Library of Medicine [OBSOLETE]
c - Co-operative cataloguing programmes LC co-operative cataloguing programme
h - Hennepin County Library [OBSOLETE]
l - Library of Congress [OBSOLETE]
s - Agency responsible for Sears List of Subject Headings [OBSOLETE]
v - Université Laval [OBSOLETE]
40
Fill Character Usage [OBSOLETE]
016 NLC Authority Record Control Number
National Bibliographic Agency Control Number
First indicator
# NLC
7 Agency identified in $2
Second indicator
# Undefined
Subfield codes
$a Record control number NLC authority record control number
$z R Cancelled/invalid NLC authority record control number
$2 Source of control number
THIS FIELD HAS BEEN BROADENED TO CARRY OTHER NATIONAL BIBLIOGRAPHIC AGENCY CONTROL NUMBERS. FIELD 010 WILL CONTINUE TO BE USED FOR THE LC CONTROL NUMBER.
053 LC Classification Number [NEW]
055 R Call Number Assigned in Canada (Series)
National Library of Canada Call Number
First indicator
# Undefined
0 Current call number [OBSOLETE]
1 Earlier call number [OBSOLETE]
Second indicator
0 Assigned by NLC Call number assigned by NLC
1 Call number assigned by contributing library [OBSOLETE]
4 Assigned by agency other than NLC
058 R LC Classification Number Assigned in Canada [OBSOLETE]
060 National Library of Medicine Call Number [NEW]
066 Character Sets Present [NEW]
070 National Agricultural Library Call Number [NEW]
082 Dewey Decimal Call Number [NEW]
083 R Dewey Classification Number Assigned by LC
First indicator
# No edition information recorded [OBSOLETE]
2 Abridged NST version [OBSOLETE]
Second indicator
0 Assigned by LC
4 Assigned by agency other than LC
Subfield codes
$z Table identification - table number
$6 Linkage
086 Government Document Call Number [NEW]
087 R Government Document Classification Number Dewey Classification Number Assigned in Canada
DEWEY NUMBERS WILL BE CARRIED IN FIELD 083; NLC WILL UNDERTAKE A RETROSPECTIVE CONVERSION OF THIS FIELD.
088 Document Shelving Number (CODOC) [OBSOLETE]
X55 Genre/Form Terms - General Information [NEW]
155 Heading - Genre/Form Term
455 See From Tracing - Genre/Form Term
555 See Also From Tracing - Genre/Form Term
755 Established Heading Linking Entry - Genre/Form Term
X80 General Subdivisions - General Information [NEW]
180 Heading - General Subdivision
480 See From Tracing - General Subdivision
580 See Also From Tracing - General Subdivision
780 Established Heading Linking Entry - General Subdivision
X81 Geographic Subdivisions - General Information [NEW]
181 Heading - Geographic Subdivision
481 See From Tracing - Geographic Subdivision
581 See Also From Tracing - Geographic Subdivision
781 Established Heading Linking Entry - Geographic Subdivision
X82 Chronological Subdivisions- General Information [NEW]
182 Heading - Chronological Subdivision
482 See From Tracing - Chronological Subdivision
582 See Also From Tracing - Chronological Subdivision
782 Established Heading Linking Entry - Chronological Subdivision
X85 Form Subdivisions - General Information [NEW]
185 Heading - Form Subdivision
485 See From Tracing - Form Subdivision
585 See Also From Tracing - Form Subdivision
785 Established Heading Linking Entry - Form Subdivision
4XX-5XX, $w Control Subfield
CAN/MARC SUBFIELD $W IS FIXED IN LENGTH AND CONTAINS FIVE CHARACTER POSITIONS. SUBFIELD $W IN THE HARMONIZED FORMAT WILL BE VARIABLE IN LENGTH AND WILL CONTAIN UP TO FOUR CHARACTER POSITIONS.
0
Special Relationship Print Constant Code
g - Full name
g - Broader term
h - Real name
h - Narrower term
i - Real name (reputedly)
i - Reference instruction phrase in subfield i
j - Name originally [OBSOLETE]
k - Name in religion [OBSOLETE]
l - Secular name [OBSOLETE]
m - Stage name of [OBSOLETE]
n - Not applicable
o - Variant name [OBSOLETE]
p - Abbreviated name [OBSOLETE]
q - Official name [OBSOLETE]
r - Broader term [OBSOLETE]
s - Narrower term [OBSOLETE]
t - Immediate parent body
z - Text carried in subfield $i [OBSOLETE]
x - Print constant generated from tag value [OBSOLETE]
1
Tracing use restriction Authority Structure Code
n - not applicable
2
Earlier form of heading Earlier Cataloguing Rules Code
a - Pre-AACR 2 form of heading (national name authority file) Tracing is the form of heading established under earlier cataloguing rules
x - Tracing is not the form of heading established under earlier cataloguing rules [OBSOLETE]
n - Not applicable
e - Earlier established form of heading (national authority file)
o - Earlier established form of heading (other authority file)
3
Reference display Reference Generation Code
e - Note only generated from the tracing (i.e., no reference is to be generated) [OBSOLETE]
i - Invisible see from reference[OBSOLETE]
n - Not applicable
x - Reference is generated from the tracing [OBSOLETE]
4
Formerly Established Heading Code [OBSOLETE]
5XX R See Also Reference Tracing
Subfield codes
$3 Authority record control number [OBSOLETE]
$0 Record Control Number
$5 R Institution to which field applies
$6 Linkage
642 R Series Numbering Example Note - Numbering Example (Series)
First indicator
# Undefined
0 Current numbering example [OBSOLETE]
1 Earlier numbering example [OBSOLETE]
Subfield codes
$5 Institution/copy to which note applies Library to which note applies
$6 Linkage
643 R Series Place and Publisher/Issuing Body Note - Place and Publisher/Issuing Body (Series)
First indicator
# Undefined
0 Information on current volumes [OBSOLETE]
1 Information on earlier volumes [OBSOLETE]
Subfield codes
$6 Linkage
644 R Series Analysis Practice Note - Analysis Practice (Series)
First indicator
# Undefined
0 Current practice [OBSOLETE]
1 Earlier practice [OBSOLETE]
Subfield codes
$5 Institution/copy to which field applies Library to which note applies
$6 Linkage
645 R Series Tracing Practice Note - Tracing Practice (Series)
First indicator
# Undefined
0 Current practice [OBSOLETE]
1 Earlier practice [OBSOLETE]
Subfield codes
$5 Institution/copy to which field applies Library to which note applies
$6 Linkage
646 R Series Classification Practice Note - Classification Practice (Series)
First indicator
# Undefined
0 Current practice [OBSOLETE]
1 Earlier practice [OBSOLETE]
Subfield codes
$5 Institution/copy to which note applies Library to which note applies
$6 Linkage
670 R Source Data Found Note - Source Data Found (Names/Titles)
Subfield codes
$a Source citation Source consulted and information found
$b Information found
$6 Linkage
671 R Note - Work Catalogued (Names/Titles) [OBSOLETE]
INFORMATION ON THE WORK CATALOGUED WILL BE INCLUDED IN FIELD 670.
676 Note - Cataloguing Rules (Names/Titles) [OBSOLETE]
678 Biographical or Historical Data [NEW]
681 R Subject Example Tracing Note Note - Example Under/Note Under (Subjects)
First indicator
0 No print constant required [OBSOLETE]
1 Example under/Exemple sous [OBSOLETE]
2 Note under/Note sous [OBSOLETE]
3 Example under reference from/Exemple sous le renvoi de [OBSOLETE]
Subfield codes
$a R Subject heading or subdivision term Subject heading
$6 Linkage
685 R Note - Source Data Found (Subjects) [OBSOLETE]
686 R Note - Source Data Not Found (Subjects) [OBSOLETE]
687 R Note - Usage (Subjects) [OBSOLETE]
688 Application History Note [NEW]
7XX Heading Linking Entries - General Information [NEW]
700 R Established Heading Linking Entry - Personal Name
710 R Established Heading Linking Entry - Corporate Name
711 R Established Heading Linking Entry - Meeting Name
730 R Established Heading Linking Entry - Uniform Title
750 R Established Heading Linking Entry - Topical Term
751 R Established Heading Linking Entry - Geographic Name
755 R Established Heading Linking Entry - Genre/Form Term
780 R Subdivision Heading Linking Entry - General Subdivision
781 R Subdivision Heading Linking Entry - Geographic Subdivision
782 R Subdivision Heading Linking Entry - Chronological Subdivision
785 R Subdivision Heading Linking Entry - Form Subdivision
788 Complex Linking Entry Data
9XX Equivalent Heading [OBSOLETE]
900 R Equivalent Heading - Personal Name
910 R Equivalent Heading - Corporate Name
911 R Equivalent Heading - Conference or Meeting
930 R Equivalent Heading - Uniform Title
950 R Equivalent Heading - Topical Subject
951 R Equivalent Heading - Geographic Name
952 R Equivalent Heading - Reversed Geographic Name
LANGUAGE EQUIVALENT HEADINGS WILL BE CARRIED IN 7XX FIELDS.
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