856  Electronic Location and Access (R)  (Variable Data Field)

Field definition and scope:

Field 856 contains the information required to locate an electronic resource.  The information identifies the electronic location containing the resource or from which it is available.  It also contains information needed to retrieve the resource by the access method identified by the first indicator position.  The relationship of the electronic location and access information in field 856 to the resource identified by the record as a whole is identified by the second indicator.  The information contained in this field is sufficient to allow for the electronic transfer of a file, subscription to an electronic journal, or logon to an electronic resource.  In some cases, only unique data elements are recorded which allow the user to access a locator table on a remote host containing the remaining information needed to access the 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.

See the "Guidelines for the Use of Field 856" for a more thorough discussion on the use of field 856.  It is located online at:  www.loc.gov/marc/856guide.html.

This field is identical to field 856 (Electronic Location and Access) defined in the MARC 21 Format for Bibliographic Data.

Field 856 is repeatable.

Guidelines for applying content designators:

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

See:  Examples for this field.

Input conventions:

Embedded holdings information

Display constants

Spacing underscore and tilde in URLs

Content designator history:

Subfield $b - Access number  [obsolete, 2020]

Subfield $g - Electronic name -- End of range  [redefined, 1997]

Subfield $g - Uniform Resource Name  [obsolete, 2000]:  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 not repeatable in favor of repeating the field due to ambiguity in determining when the subfield could be repeatable.  Subfield $u was changed back to repeatable in 2000 to record URNs after subfield $g was made obsolete.  It was also renamed Uniform Resource Identifier in 2000 to account for URNs.

Subfield $y - Link text  [new, 2000]

Subfield $7 - Access status  [new, 2019]

Related MARC fields or documents:

MARC 21 Format for Bibliographic Data:

753  System Details Access to Computer Files

856  Electronic Location and Access

MARC Code List for Organizations

Symbols and Interlibrary Loan Policies in Canada

Uniform Resource Locators (URL) (RFC 1738)

Value Lists for Codes and Controlled Vocabularies:

Electronic Access Methods Code List

See also:

852, 856  Location Fields

Variable Data Fields