008/25-27 (006/08-10) Continuing resources: Nature of contents

Character position definition and scope:

One-character alphabetic codes indicate that a work contains certain types of materials. Generally, a specific code is used only if a significant part of the item is the type of material represented by the code. Information for these character positions is usually derived from other areas of the bibliographic record, for example, field 245 (Title Statement), the 5XX Note fields, or the 6XX Subject Added Entry fields.

Up to three one-character codes may be recorded, in alphabetical order. If fewer than three codes are assigned, the codes are left justified and each unused position contains a # (blank). If more than three codes are appropriate to the item, the three most significant are selected and recorded in alphabetical order. If no codes are applicable, all positions contain blanks (###). Three fill characters ( ||| ) are used when no attempt has been made to code these character positions.

Record requirements for National-level and Minimal-level records: Optional.

Guidelines for applying content designators:

Code:	Description:
#	Not specified
a	Abstracts/summaries
b	Bibliographies
c	Catalogs
d	Dictionaries
e	Encyclopedias Item includes an encyclopedia or an encyclopedic treatment of a specific topic.
f	Handbooks
g	Legal articles Item includes substantive articles on legal topics, such as those published in law school reviews.
h	Biography
i	Indexes
k	Discographies
l	Legislation
m	Theses
n	Surveys of literature in a subject area
o	Reviews Item includes critical reviews of published or performed works (e.g., books, films, sound recordings, theater, etc.).
p	Programmed texts
q	Filmographies
r	Directories
s	Statistics
t	Technical reports
u	Standards/specifications Item includes either an international, national, or industry standard or a specification which gives a precise statement of a process or service requirement.
v	Legal cases and case notes
w	Law reports and digests
y	Yearbooks
z	Treaties
5	Calendars
6	Comics/graphic novels
\|	No attempt to code

Content designator history:

In 1979, code n (Legal cases and case notes) was made obsolete. Prior to 1979, legal cases and case notes were identified by code n; currently code v is used.

t - University calendars [redefined, 1997] [CAN/MARC only]

u - Standards/specifications [new, 2002]

y - Yearbooks [obsolete, 1988] [redefined, 2008]

3 - Discographies [obsolete, 1997] [CAN/MARC only]

4 - Filmographies [obsolete, 1997] [CAN/MARC only]

5 - Calendars [new, 2008]

6 - Comics/graphic novels [new, 2008]