852 Location (R) (Variable Data Fields)

Field Definition and Scope:

Field 852 contains the information required to locate an item. The information may simply identify the organization holding the item or form which it is available, or it may also contain detailed information to locate the item in a collection. Several subfields duplicate those in the 863-865 Enumeration and Chronology fields. They are used in field 852 when there is no 863-868 field in the holdings information, for example, for holdings for single-part items or for multipart and serial items reported at Holdings level 1 or 2 (Leader/17, Encoding level, code 1 or 2).

Field 852 is repeated when holdings are reported for multiple copies of an item and the location data elements vary. When other holdings information fields are associated with multiple 852 fields, the configuration of the holdings report must be considered to assure that these fields are implicitly linked. A description of the treatment required for 852 holdings information clusters is given under the heading Separate and Embedded Holdings Information in the Introduction to this publication. Subfield $8 is used in this field to sequence multiple related holdings records.

Guidelines for Applying Content Designators:

Indicators:

First Indicator - Shelving scheme: The first indicator position contains a value that indicates the scheme used to shelve a bibliographic item in the collections of the reporting organization.

# No information provided

0 Library of Congress classification

1 Dewey Decimal classification

2 National Library of Medicine classification

3 Superintendent of Documents classification

4 Shelving control number

5 Title

6 Shelved separately

8 Other scheme

Second Indicator - Shelving order: The second indicator position contains a value that indicates whether a serial or multipart item is shelved under a primary or an alternative numbering scheme. The distinction is necessary then an item carries two numbering schemes. The numbering scheme may be an alphabetical, numerical, or chronological designation.

# No information provided

0 Not enumeration

1 Primary enumeration

2 Alternative enumeration

Subfield Codes:

$a Location (NR)

$b Sublocation or collection (R)

$c Shelving location (R)

$e Address (R)

$f Coded location qualifier (R)

$g Non-coded location qualifier (R)

$h Classification part (NR)

$i Item part (R)

$j Shelving control number (NR)

$k Call number prefix (NR)

$l Shelving form of title (NR)

$m Call number suffix (NR)

$n Country code (NR)

$p Piece designation (NR)

$q Piece physical condition (NR)

$s Copyright article-fee code (R)

$t Copy number (NR)

$x Nonpublic note (R)

$z Public note (R)

$3 Materials specified (NR)

$8 Link and sequence number

Input Conventions:

Order of Subfields:

When used, subfield $f (Coded location qualifier) immediately follows the subfield $a (Location), $b (Sublocation or collection), or $c (Shelving location) being qualified.

Embedded Holdings Information:

When holdings information is embedded in a USMARC bibliographic record, multiple 852 fields may be used only when the information does not include other holdings information fields that must be linked to a specific 852 field for intelligibility. When field linking is required, one 852 field and the other fields associated with it may be embedded in the bibliographic record. Separate holdings records must be made for each of the other 852 fields and its associated fields.

Capitalization:

The Qualifier type and Unit type codes in subfield $f are input in lowercase.

Content Designator History:

Subfield $k - Call number prefix

$m - Call number suffix

In 1990, subfield $m was defined for suffix data and subfield $k (Call number prefix/suffix) was redefined to include only prefix data. Prior to that change, both prefix and suffix data were contained in a separate subfield $k.

In 1987, subfield $x was defined for nonpublic notes and subfield $z (Note) was redefined to include only public notes. Prior to that change, both public and nonpublic notes were contained in subfield $z.

First Indicator Shelving scheme

Value 7 - Source specified in subfield $2

In 1993, value 7 (Source specified in subfield $2) and subfield $2 (Source of classification or shelving scheme) were defined. Prior to that change, sources not identified by the first indicator value 0 - 6 were coded with value # (no information provided) or value 8 (Other scheme).

Related USMARC fields or documents:

018 Copyright Article-Fee Code

050 Library of Congress Call Number

060 National Library of Medicine Call Number

082 Dewey Decimal Call Number

086 Government Document Call Number

See also:

Variable Data Fields