When you are checking the bibliographic record against the book in hand, these are the parts of the MARC record that are important to check:

Edit

Fixed Field

Type: a (Type of record) BLvl: m (Bibliographic level)

(These do not have to be modified. Just be aware that this is where the OPAC says “Format” this is the source of that information.)

DtSt: Dates:

(The system uses the date elements when a patron is limiting his/her search by date. Make sure the dates match what is in the book and the 260 subfield c.)

Lang:

(The system uses this fixed field element when a patron is limiting his/her search by language.)

Edit

Variable Fields

ISBN (020 field)

Call number (050/090 field)

• It is okay to leave the Dewey Decimal call number (082 field) in the record.
• For the Library of Congress call number leave in the bibliographic record the call number in the 050 field even if we don't use it locally.
• Always use the 090 field for locally assigned LC call numbers.
• It's okay to have both an 050 and an 090 field in the record.
• Make sure that the call number we use is in both the bib. record and holdings record.
• If you decide that the Canadian call number (055 field) is what we will use, move it into a 090 field and correct the punctuation (the Canadian call number lacks a period before the first Cutter).
• Always add the date of publication to the call number. If there is a conference main entry (111 field) use the date of the conference instead of the date of publication.

Author main entry (1XX field)

Title (245 field, subfield a and b)

The title is the most important field in the record. Please check the title carefully against the title page and correct any typos. Important—don’t forget to check the 2nd indicator. It is a filing indicator and if coded wrong it will be indexed incorrectly and lost in the system)

Edition statement (250 field)

Imprint/Publication information (260 field)

Old cataloging rules shorten the form of the publisher’s name. The current cataloging rules require us to put the full form of the publisher’s name. For copy cataloging we can accept the form of the publisher’s name as found on the record, but for original cataloging we should follow the current rules.

Physical description (300 field, subfield a)

Check subfield c if you think you might have a folio book (above 28 cm.)

Series title (440 field)

Important—don’t forget to check the 2nd indicator. It is a filing indicator and if coded wrong it will be indexed incorrectly and lost in the system)

LC Subject headings (6XX fields, 2nd indicator "0")

Check the first (or first two) subject headings only (6XX fields)

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