Character position definition and scope:

A one-character alphabetic code that specifies the form of material for the item being described.  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:

#

None of the following  Item is not specified by one of the other codes.

a

Microfilm

b

Microfiche

c

Microopaque

d

Large print

f

Braille

o

Online

q

Direct electronic

r

Regular print reproduction  Item is a reproduction in regular eye-readable print, such as a photocopy.

s

Electronic

|

No attempt to code

Content designator history:

# - None of the following  [redefined]

Code # (Not a reproduction) was redefined in 1987 when the focus of 008/23 was changed.

g - Punched paper tape  [obsolete]

h - Magnetic tape  [obsolete]

i  - Multimedia  [obsolete]

z - Other  [obsolete]

These codes were made obsolete in 1987 when the coding of 008/23 (Form of reproduction code) was redefined as information about the medium of the item in hand rather than about bibliographic reproductions.

o - Online  [new, 2010]

q - Direct electronic  [new, 2010]

See also:

006 and 008:  Continuing Resources

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