Character position definition and scope:

A one-character alphabetic code specifies the form of material for the item in hand.  For mixed materials that are archivally controlled, this character position is coded to reflect the predominant part of the materials being described.  If the materials have been microfilmed but the repository still has the originals, code # (blank) is used.  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]

j  - Handwritten transcript  [obsolete]

p - Photocopy  [obsolete]

t  - Typewritten transcript  [obsolete]

z - Other form of reproduction  [obsolete]

These codes were made obsolete in 1987 when the coding of 008/23 (Form of reproduction code) was renamed (Form of item) and 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:  Mixed Materials

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