008 Fixed-Length Data Elements (NR) (Variable Control Field)
Field definition and scope:
Field 008 contains 40 character positions (00-39) that provide coded information about the record as a whole and about special bibliographic aspects of the item being cataloged. These coded data elements are potentially useful for retrieval and data management purposes.
National-level and Minimal-level record requirements for field 008 for all types of material are Mandatory. Requirements for specific 008 character positions vary. See the character position description within the specific type of material.
Field 008 is NOT repeatable .
Guidelines for applying content designation:
Field 008 has no indicators or subfield codes . The data elements are positionally defined by type of material.
Character positions that are not defined contain a blank (#). All defined character positions must contain either a defined code or a fill character ( | ). The fill character is used in a defined character position when the cataloging organization makes no attempt to code the character position. For National-level records, the fill character is used in a defined character position when the National Level Requirement is Optional.
Character positions /00-17 and /35-39 are defined the same across all types of material , with special considerations for position /06 (Type of date/publication status). Character positions /18-34 are generally different for each material type, although certain data elements are defined the same for more than one type. In such cases, they occupy the same field 008 character positions.
For guidelines on coding records for reproductions
, select: Coding 008 for Reproductions
.
For information on field 008 character positions, select a topic:
008/00-39: Character Positions by Type of Material
006 and 008: Composite Listing by Character Position
006 and 008: Cross Reference Tables by Type of Material
System-Generated Data Elements
Format Integration and Related Proposals
008/40 Fill character usage [obsolete, 1997] [CAN/MARC only]
Related MARC field or document:
See also:
