Codes

#    Not a government publication

a    Autonomous or semi-autonomous component

c    Multilocal

f     Federal/national

i     International intergovernmental

l     Local

m   Multistate

o    Government publication - level undetermined

s    State, provincial, territorial, dependent, etc.

u    Unknown if item is government publication

z    Other

Description/Instructions

The government publication code contains a one-character code representing the jurisdictional level of the body publishing or producing the item.

A government publication is defined as any item published or produced (e.g., audiovisual materials) by a body created or controlled by a national, state, or local government (including state controlled university presses and intergovernmental bodies of all types) or by any subdivision of such a body.  Note that under this guideline a government body and all its subdivisions are treated as government bodies regardless of how they may be entered as headings (i.e., under jurisdiction or not).  In the bibliographic item being cataloged the body does not have to be a main or added entry, but it should be named as publisher, etc. in the publication, distribution, etc. area or have caused the item to be published.  When in doubt, treat the item as a government publication.

The government publication code reflects the current status of the serial.  When updating a 550 note to reflect a change in issuing body, change the government publication code if the status of the serial as a government publication has also changed with the new issuing body.

DEFAULT CODE:  #

Guidelines for certain types of publications

1.   University presses:  Treat items published by university presses as government publications if the presses are created or controlled by a government (e.g., state university presses in universities of the United States).

2.   Socialist countries:  Since coding of all items published in socialist countries would limit the usefulness of this element, coding should be used only for the same type of bodies that would be considered government in a non-socialist country.  In coding items in this manner, when in doubt, treat the item as a government publication.

3.   Great Britain:  Use code "f" for items published by the governments of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

4.   Uncertainty if a government agency:  Use code "u" (unknown) if one is not sure whether or not the publisher is a government agency.

5.   Two levels:  If an item is published or produced jointly by government agencies at two difference levels, code for the higher government level.

6.   Academic institutions:  Treat items published by academic institutions as government publications if the institutions are created or controlled by a government.

7.   American Indian tribes:  Use code "f" for these publications.

8.   A publication is coded for the appropriate government agency level, even when the government agency is given as a second-named publisher in the imprint.

Code definitions

#    Not a government publication.

Code "#" indicates that the item is not published by or for a government body.

008/28  #

110 2# Rand McNally.

008/28  #

245 02 A guidebook of United States coins.

a    Autonomous or semi-autonomous component.

Code "a" indicates that the item is published or produced by or for a government body of an autonomous or semi-autonomous component of a country.

008/28  a

110 1# Sabah.

c    Multilocal.

Code "c" indicates that the item is published or produced by or for a multilocal jurisdiction which is defined as a regional combination of jurisdictions below the state level.

008/28  c

110 2# Région parisienne (France)

f     Federal/national.

Code "f" indicates that the item is published or produced by or for a federal or national government body, e.g., a sovereign nation, such as Canada.  Code "f" is used for the governments of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.  Code "f" is also used for American Indian tribes.

008/28  f

110 1# Italy. $b Ministero degli affari esteri.

i     International intergovernmental.

Code "i" indicates that the item is published or produced by or for an international intergovernmental body.

008/28  i

110 2# World Health Organization.

l     Local.

Code "l" indicates that the item is published or produced by or for a local government jurisdiction such as a county, city, town, etc.

008/28  l

110 1# New York (N.Y.)

m   Multistate.

Code "m" indicates that the item is published or produced by or for a regional combination of jurisdictions at the state, provincial, territorial, etc. level.

008/28  m

110 2# Lake Erie Regional Transportation Authority.

o    Government publication - level undetermined.

Code "o" indicates that the item is published or produced by or for a government body but that the jurisdictional level cannot be determined.

s    State, provincial, territorial, dependent, etc.

Code "s" indicates that the jurisdictional level of the government body is a state, province, territory, etc.

008/28  s

110 1# Wisconsin. $b Commissioners of Fisheries.

u    Unknown if item is government publication.

Code "u" indicates that whether or not the item is published or produced by or for a government agency is unknown.

z    Other.

Code "z" indicates a type of government publication for which none of the other defined codes are appropriate.

Related fields, etc.

260, 550

008/28  006/11  (Computer files)  (MARC 21 Format for Bibliographic Data)

008/28  006/11  (Maps)  (MARC 21 Format for Bibliographic Data)

008/28  006/11  (Continuing resources)  (MARC 21 Format for Bibliographic Data)

008/28  006/11  (Visual materials)  (MARC 21 Format for Bibliographic Data)

See also:

Leader/006/008

Section E.  MARC 21 Format for Serials as Applied Within CONSER

CONSER Editing Guide:  Contents