30.12. Physical description (field 300)
For current serials, the extent of item (subfield $a) contains only the specific material designation (SMD) for the type of electronic resource, as given in AACR2 9.5B. The Library of Congress is applying the optional provision of the rule to give conventional terminology for the specific format of the physical carrier.
AACR2 9.5B1 |
Optional provision |
300 ## $a computer optical discs |
300 ## $a CD-ROMs |
300 ## $a computer optical discs |
300 ## $a DVD-ROMs |
300 ## $a computer disks |
300 ## $a diskettes |
300 ## $a computer disks |
300 ## $a floppy disks |
300 ## $a computer tape reels |
300 ## $a tape reels |
300 ## $a computer tape cartridges |
300 ## $a tape cartridges |
30.12.2. Other physical details
Give physical characteristics, generally only concerning sound and color, in subfield $b (AACR2 9.5C). If the electronic resource produces sound, give "sd."; if the electronic resource, not just the title screen, is encoded to display in two or more colors, give "col."
300 ## $a CD-ROMs : $b col.
Give other physical characteristics information concerning the number of sides used, recording density, and sectoring, if considered important (AACR2 9.5C2).
300 ## $a computer disks : $b sd., col., single sided, single density, soft sectored
300 ## $a tape reels : $b 6250 bpi
Give the diameter of the disc (or disk) in inches to the next highest 1/4 inch in subfield $c, as specified in AACR2 9.5D. (9.5D1 gives the option to give the dimensions in centimetres; as of Fall 2002, LC is not applying this option.)
CD-ROMs:
300 ## $a CD-ROMs ; $c 4 3/4 in.
Floppy disks:
300 ## $a computer disks ; $c 5 1/4 in.
If the dimensions of the floppy disks change over the course of the publication, or if the publisher issues more than one size of disk to accommodate different disk drive sizes, give the lesser size followed by the greater.
300 ## $a floppy disks ; $c 3 1/2-5 1/4 in.
No dimensions are given for magnetic tape reels, according to AACR2 9.5D1.
30.12.4. Accompanying material
Accompanying material consists of two general types, documentation (e.g., user's guides, manuals, etc.) and search and retrieval software. If it accompanies each issue, record the information in subfield $e.
300 ## $a computer disks ; $c 5 1/4 in. + $e technical documentation
When accompanying material does not accompany each issue, or it is unclear whether or not it does, a note may be given in field 500 or 556 , as appropriate (see CCM 30.14.7).
See also: