Authoritative-agency data element:

An authoritative-agency data element is one whose data content is derived from a list or set of conventions that is maintained by a particular agency. An organization using an authoritative-agency data element must use the authoritative list or conventions specified for the data element, for example, the Library of Congress classification schedules in field 050 (Library of Congress Call Number).

The applicable list or set of conventions is specifically identified in the data element descriptions in the format. The responsibility for the data content of an authoritative-agency data element belongs to the organization using the list or conventions and is determined by the Responsible Parties Rule.