Character position definition and scope:

The Place of publication, production, or execution is indicated by a two- or three-character alphabetic MARC code.

The code is an authoritative-agency data element taken from the MARC Code List for Countries that is maintained by the Library of Congress. Choice of a MARC code is generally related to information in field 260 (Publication, Distribution, Etc. (Imprint)) .

The code recorded in 008/15-17 is used in conjunction with field 044 (Country of Publishing/Producing Entity Code) when more than one code is appropriate to an item. The first code in subfield $a of field 044 is recorded in 008/15-17.

Record requirements for all types of material : for National-level records - Mandatory; for Minimal-level records - Optional.

Validity by material type : Valid for all types.

Guidelines for applying content designators:

Two-character codes are left justified and the unused position contains a # (blank ).

For items reprinted in the original print size, the code is based on the jurisdiction where the reprint was published and not on the jurisdiction associated with the original place of publication.

For sound recordings , the code represents the place where the recording company is located.

For visual material items that are original or historical graphics, if geographic information can be deduced (as with most photographs), a place code is recorded in this character position.

Examples

When the place of publication, production, or execution is totally unknown, code xx# is used.

Examples

When more than one place of publication, production, or execution is involved, the first-named country is coded in 008/15-17. Additional codes are recorded in field 044 (Country of Publishing/Producing Entity Code).

Example

For visual materials and music , if the work is a multicountry production, the code for the first country is recorded in 008/15-17. The code for the first country is repeated in field 044 (Country of Publishing/Producing Entity Code), followed by the codes for countries of other bodies involved in the production.

For serials and serially-issued computer files , the country code reflects the place of publication of the latest piece in hand. If the record is updated at a later time and the place has changed, the place of publication code is updated when the change is mentioned in a note.

For mixed materials , the code represents the place where the material was created or assembled.

Special codes:

Input conventions:

Capitalization - Codes are always input in lowercase.

Content designator history:

Questionable place coding [obsolete]

The technique for indicating a questionable place by modifying the MARC country code was made obsolete in 1972. Prior to that time, the letter q was added to a two-character place code (e.g., Paris? was coded as frq) or the letters d, l, s, or v were used instead of the letters c, k, r, or u as the third character in the three-character codes for jurisdictions within Canada, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States (e.g., Chicago? was coded as ilv instead of ilu).

Prior to 1980, place codes were limited to two character positions (positions 15-16) in the visual materials specifications. The three-character codes for Canada, the U.K., the U.S., and the U.S.S.R. were not used (e.g., London was coded uk).

Related MARC fields or documents:

044 Country of Publishing/Producing Entity Code

260 Publication, Distribution, Etc. (Imprint)

MARC Code List for Countries

See also:

008/00-39: Character Positions by Type of Material

008 Fixed-Length Data Elements