856 Electronic Location and Access (R) (Variable Data Field)
Field 856 contains the information needed to locate and access an electronic resource. The field may be used in a bibliographic record for a resource when that resource or a subset of it is available electronically. In addition, it may be used to locate and access an electronic version of a non-electronic resource described in the bibliographic record or a related electronic resource.
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, different portions of the item are available electronically, mirror sites are recorded, different formats/resolutions with different URLs are indicated, and related items are recorded.
The National level record requirement for this field is Optional.
Field 856 is repeatable.
See also: Guidelines for the Use of Field 856 or check online at: www.loc.gov/marc/856guide.html.
Guidelines for applying content designators:
For indicator and subfield code definitions and examples, National-level (NLR) and Minimal-level (MLR) record requirements, and designator repeatability, see table below:
Position |
Description |
NLR |
MLR |
Repeatability |
Field 856 |
Electronic Location and Access |
O |
O |
R |
Indicator: |
|
|
|
|
First |
M |
|
|
|
A |
|
|
||
0 |
A |
|
|
|
1 |
A |
|
|
|
2 |
A |
|
|
|
3 |
A |
|
|
|
4 |
A |
|
|
|
7 |
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Second |
M |
|
|
|
A |
|
|
||
0 |
A |
|
|
|
1 |
A |
|
|
|
2 |
A |
|
|
|
8 |
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subfield code: |
|
|
|
|
$a |
A |
O |
R |
|
$c |
A |
O |
R |
|
A |
O |
R |
||
A |
O |
R |
||
$m |
O |
O |
R |
|
$o |
A |
O |
NR |
|
$p |
A |
O |
NR |
|
$q |
A |
O |
NR |
|
$s |
O |
O |
R |
|
A |
O |
R |
||
$v |
A |
O |
R |
|
$w |
O |
O |
R |
|
$x |
O |
O |
R |
|
$y |
O |
O |
R |
|
$z |
O |
O |
R |
|
A |
O |
NR |
||
A |
O |
NR |
||
$6 |
A |
O |
NR |
|
$7 |
|
|
NR |
|
$8 |
O |
O |
R |
See: Examples for this field.
Full record examples for this field.
Spacing underscore and tilde in URLs
Subfield $b - Access number [obsolete, 2020]
Subfield $g - Electronic name -- End of range [redefined, 1997]
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 $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 Locator [repeatability changed]: Prior to 1999, subfield $u was defined as repeatable. It was changed to non-repeatable in favor of repeating the field due to ambiguity in determining when the subfield could be repeatable.
Subfield $u - Uniform Resource Identifier [redefined and repeatability changed]: In 1999, subfield $u was renamed from Uniform Resource Locator to Uniform Resource Identifier in order to combine the function of subfields $u and $g, making subfield $g obsolete. The use of subfield $u was then redefined to include both URLs and URNs, and to change the subfield to repeatable, with stipulations.
Subfield $y - Link text [new, 2000]
Subfield $7 - Access status [new, 2019]
Related MARC fields or documents:
753 System Details Access to Computer Files
Uniform Resource Locators (URL) (RFC 1738)
MARC Code List for Organizations
Value Lists for Codes and Controlled Vocabularies:
Electronic Access Methods Code List
See also: