Character position definition and scope:

A one-character alphabetic code describes the intellectual level of the target audience for which the material is intended.  When items with factual content are considered appropriate for more than one target audience, the code is recorded for the primary target audience.

If the record has both reading grade level and interest age or interest grade level information present in the 521 (Target Audience Note) field, 008/22 is coded based on the interest age.

A fill character ( | ) is used when no attempt has been made to code this 008 position.

Record requirements for National-level records:  Mandatory; for Minimal-level records:  Optional.

Guidelines for applying content designators:

Code:

Description:

#

Unknown or not specified

a

Preschool  Children, approximate ages 0-5 years.

b

Primary  Children, approximate ages 6-8 years.

c

Pre-adolescent  Young people, approximate ages 9-13.

d

Adolescent  Young people, approximate ages 14-17.

e

Adult  Item is intended for adults.

f

Specialized

g

General

j

Juvenile

|

No attempt to code

Content designator history:

c - Elementary and junior high  [renamed, 2002]

d - Secondary (senior high)  [renamed, 2002]

u - School material at first level  [obsolete]  [CAN/MARC only]

v - School material at second level  [obsolete]  [CAN/MARC only]

Prior to the definition of codes a through g in 1995, only codes # and j were used in USMARC.

See also:

006 and 008:  Books

006 and 008:  Cross Reference Tables by Type of Material

006/01-17:  Character Positions by Type of Material

006  Fixed-Length Data Elements - Additional Material Characteristics

008/00-39:  Character Positions by Type of Material

008  Fixed-Length Data Elements