Kinds of Bibliographic Records (Introduction)

MARC bibliographic records are distinguished from all other types of MARC records by specific codes entered in Leader/06 (Type of record).

Microforms , whether original or reproductions, are not identified as a special type of bibliographic record. The microform aspect is secondary to the type of material to which the original item belongs (e.g., book). The same is true for Computer files in that the computer file aspect is secondary; however, certain categories of electronic resources are coded as Computer Files. Leader/06 identifies the following fourteen bibliographic record types.

Bibliographic record types (Type of Record - Leader/06):

Language material

Manuscript language material

The language material type of record is created using BK or SE format specifications .

Computer file

A bibliographic record for a body of information encoded in a manner which allows it to be processed by a computer. This type of record is created using the CF specifications.

Cartographic material

Manuscript cartographic material

A bibliographic record for maps (printed, in manuscript, or a microform), atlases, globes, and other types of cartographic material. This type of record is created using the MP specifications.

Printed music

Manuscript music

Nonmusical sound recording

Musical sound recording

A bibliographic record for music (printed, in manuscript, or a microform), or for musical or nonmusical sound recordings. This type of record is created using the MU specifications.

Projected medium

Two-dimensional nonprojectable graphic

Three-dimensional artifact or naturally occurring object

Kit

A bibliographic record for projected media (e.g., motion pictures, slides), two-dimensional nonprojectable graphic media (e.g., drawings, posters, prints), kits (i.e., an item containing a mixture of components from two or more categories of material), or three-dimensional artifacts or naturally occurring objects (e.g., toys, sculpture, fossils). This type of record includes an archival visual item or group of items where the format or medium is emphasized in the record. This type of record is created using the VM specifications.

Mixed material (Archival and manuscripts control)

A bibliographic record for an item or group of items where archival control characteristics are emphasized over the format or medium and no one form of material is emphasized or predominates. This type of record is currently created using the MX specifications.

See also:

Bibliographic Data Format: Introduction