300 Physical Description (R) (Variable Data Field)
Field 300 contains the physical description of the item which consists of the extent of the item and its dimensions and that may also include other physical details of the item and information concerning accompanying material.
The National level record requirement for this field is Mandatory; for computer files it is Mandatory if applicable.
Field 300 is repeatable .
Guidelines for applying content designators:
The data in this field are customarily formulated as specified by various cataloging rules. In records formulated following cataloging rules based on International Standard Bibliographic Description (ISBD ) principles, a relationship exists between prescribed ISBD punctuation and the identification of specific subfield data. AACR 2 formulated bibliographic records follow ISBD principles for description and punctuation. Most of the examples in this section illustrate the prescribed ISBD punctuation associated with specific subfields.
For indicator and subfield code definitions and examples, National-level (NLR) and Minimal-level (MLR) record requirements , and designator repeatability , see table below:
Position | Description | NLR | MLR | Repeatability |
Field 300 | Physical Description for Computer files | M A | M | R |
Indicator: | ||||
First | Undefined; contains a blank | M | ||
Second | Undefined; contains a blank | M | ||
Subfield code: | ||||
M | M | R | ||
A | O | NR | ||
for Mixed materials | M A | O | R | |
for Mixed materials | A O | O | NR | |
$f | A | A | R | |
$g | A | O | R | |
$3 | O | O | NR | |
$6 | A | A | NR | |
$8 | O | O | R |
Field 300 was extended to music
sound recordings and visual materials
in 1980. Prior to that time, music sound recordings specifications used field 305 (Physical Description for Sound Recordings (Pre-AACR 2))
and visual materials specifications used field 301 (Physical Description for Films (Pre-AACR 2))
.
Prior to the definition of field 256 (Computer File Characteristics)
in the computer file
specifications in 1987, field 300 contained both the physical description of the files (e.g., the number of reels or disks) and file characteristics information (e.g., the type of file, the number of logical records).
Subfield $b - Other physical details [added]: Subfield $b was added to the maps
specifications in 1978. Prior to that time, illustration information was an integral part of the subfield $a data.
Subfields $d - Accompanying material [obsolete, 1997] [CAN/MARC only]
$e - Accompanying material [added] [USMARC only]
Subfield $e was added to the format in 1980. Prior to that time, accompanying information was contained in a second subfield $a in the books, archival and manuscripts control, music score and serial specifications and in a 500 note field in the maps specifications.
Subfields $k - Speed [Videodiscs, pre-AACR2 records only] [obsolete, 1998] [CAN/MARC only]
$m - Identification/manufacturer number [pre-AACR2 records only] [obsolete, 1988] [CAN/MARC only]
$n - Matrix and/or take number [Sound recordings, pre-AACR2 records only] [obsolete, 1988] [CAN/MARC only]
See also:
3XX Physical Description, Etc. Fields
