856 Electronic Location and Access

Field definition and scope:

Field 856 contains the information needed to locate and access electronic information. The field may be used in an authority record to provide supplementary information available electronically about the entity for which the record was created.

Field 856 is repeated when the location data elements vary (the URL in subfield $u or subfields $a and $d, when used). It is also repeated when more than one access method is used, mirror sites are recorded, different formats/resolutions with different URLs are indicated, and related items are recorded.

See the "Guidelines for the Use of Field 856" for a more thorough discussion on the use of field 856. It is located online at: www.loc.gov/marc/856guide.html.

The National level record requirement for this field is Optional.

Field 856 is repeatable.

Guidelines for applying content designators:

For indicator and subfield code definitions and examples, National level (NLR) record requirements, and designator repeatability, see table below:

Position	Description	NLR	Repeatability
Field 856	Electronic Location and Access	O	R
Indicator:
First	Access method	M
#	No information provided	A
0	Email	A
1	FTP	A
2	Remote login (Telnet)	A
3	Dial-up	A
4	HTTP	A
7	Method specified in subfield $2	A

Second	Relationship	M
#	No information provided	A
0	Resource	A
1	Version of resource	A
2	Related resource	A
8	No display constant generated	A

Subfield code:
$a	Host name	A	R
$c	Compression information	A	R
$d	Path	A	R
$f	Electronic name	A	R
$m	Contact for access assistance	O	R
$o	Operating system	A	NR
$p	Port	A	NR
$q	Electronic format type	A	NR
$s	File size	O	R
$u	Uniform Resource Identifier	A	R
$v	Hours access method available	A	R
$w	Record control number	O	R
$x	Nonpublic note	O	R
$y	Link text	O	R
$z	Public note	O	R
$2	Access method	A	NR
$3	Materials specified	A	NR
$6	Linkage	A	NR
$7	Access status		NR
$8	Field link and sequence number	O	R

See: Examples for this field.

Input conventions:

Spacing underscore and tilde in URLs

Content designator history:

Subfield $b - Access number [obsolete, 2020]

Subfield $g - Uniform Resource Name [obsolete]: Prior to 1997, subfield $g was defined as Electronic name-End of range. Because it was rarely if ever used, it was redefined as Uniform Resource Name. It was made obsolete in 2000 in favor of recording the URN in subfield $u.

Subfield $g - Uniform Resource Locator [obsolete]: Prior to 2000, subfield $g was defined as Uniform Resource Locator and was not repeatable. It was made obsolete in 2000 in favor of recording the URN in subfield $u.

Subfield $h - Processor of request [obsolete, 2020]

Subfield $i - Instruction [obsolete, 2020]

Subfield $j - Bits per second [obsolete, 2020]

Subfield $k - Password [obsolete, 2020]

Subfield $l - Logon [obsolete, 2020]

Subfield $n - Name of location of host [obsolete, 2020]

Subfield $q - Electronic format type [redefined]: Prior to 1997, subfield $q was defined as File transfer mode to contain an indication of whether the file was transferred as binary or ASCII. It was redefined to contain type of electronic format.

Subfield $r - Settings [obsolete, 2020]

Subfield $t - Terminal emulation [obsolete, 2020]

Subfield $u - Uniform Resource Identifier [renamed, 2000]: Prior to 1999, subfield $u was defined as repeatable. It was changed to not repeatable in favor of repeating the field due to ambiguity in determining when the subfield could be repeatable. Subfield $u was changed back to repeatable in 2000 to record URNs after subfield $g was made obsolete. It was also renamed Uniform Resource Identifier in 2000 to account for URNs.

Subfield $y - Link text [new, 2000]

Subfield $7 - Access status [new, 2019]

LC Guidelines:

856 Electronic Location and Access