Record Content Responsibility in Classification Records  (Introduction)

The MARC 21 Format for Classification Data serves as a vehicle for classification authority data of all types from any organization.  In general, the responsibility for the data content, content designation, and transcription of data within a MARC record may be determined by examination of the field indicated in the responsible parties section below.

Responsible Parties

In unmodified records, the organization identified as the original cataloging source in 040 (Record Source) subfield $a is responsible for the content of the record.  The organization identified as the transcribing agency in field 040 subfield $c is responsible for the content designation and transcription of the data.

Certain data elements are defined in relation to the authoritative agency that maintains the list or rules upon which the data is based (e.g., field 750 Index Term - Topical).  An organization using an authoritative-agency data element must use the authoritative list or rules specified for the data element.  These lists or rules are specifically identified in the data element descriptions.  The responsibility for the content of the data element belongs to the organization identified in subfields $a and $d of field 040.

Other data elements are defined in the format as being exclusively assigned by a single agency (e.g., field 010 Library of Congress Control Number).  The content of agency-assigned data elements is always the responsibility of the agency.  The content designation and transcription of the data may be the responsibility of another organization identified in subfield $c of field 040.

See also:

Classification Data Format:  Introduction