Field definition and scope:

Field 020 contains the International Standard Book Number (ISBN) copied from subfield $a of field 020 (International Standard Book Number) of the MARC bibliographic record that represents the description of the item for which a separate holdings record is created.

It may also contain terms of availability and any canceled or invalid ISBN from subfields $c and $z of field 020 in the bibliographic record.  If the bibliographic record contains multiple valid ISBNs that refer to different versions of the item, the one that corresponds to the item described in the holdings statement is used.

Additional examples of the use of field 020 are given in field 020 (International Standard Book Number) in the MARC 21 Format for Bibliographic Data.

The ISBN is an agency-assigned data element.  ISBNs are assigned to monographic publications by designated agencies in each country participating in the program.

Field 020 is repeatable.

Guidelines for applying content designators:

For indicator and subfield code definitions and examples, and designator repeatability, see table below:

Position

Description

Repeatability

Field 020

International Standard Book Number

R

Indicator:

 

 

First

Undefined; contains a blank

 

Second

Undefined; contains a blank

 

 

 

 

Subfield code:

 

 

$a

International Standard Book Number

NR

$c

Terms of availability

NR

$q

Qualifying information

R

$z

Canceled/invalid ISBN

R

$6

Linkage

NR

$8

Field link and sequence number

R

Input conventions:

ISBN structure

Punctuation

Display constants

Embedded holdings information

Content designator history:

Subfield $q - Qualifying information  [new, 2013]

Prior to the definition of subfield $q in 2013, qualifying information was contained in subfield $a (International Standard Book Number) and subfield $z (Canceled/invalid ISBN).

Related MARC fields or documents:

RDA in MARC Holdings Data

MARC 21 Format for Bibliographic Data:

020  International Standard Book Number

See also:

0XX  Number and Codes

Variable Data Fields