Character position definition and scope:

One-character alphabetic codes that indicate whether a significant part of the item is or contains certain types of material.  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 four codes may be recorded, in alphabetical order.  If fewer than four codes are assigned, the codes are left justified and each unused position contains a # (blank).  If more than four codes are appropriate, the four most significant are selected and recorded in alphabetical order.  If no codes are applicable, all positions contain blanks (####).  Four fill characters ( |||| ) are used when no attempt has been made to code these 008 positions.

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

Guidelines for applying content designators:

Code:

Description:

#

No specified nature of contents

a

Abstracts/summaries

b

Bibliographies

c

Catalogs

d

Dictionaries

e

Encyclopedias  Item is an encyclopedia or an encyclopedic treatment of a specific topic.

f

Handbooks

g

Legal articles

i

Indexes

j

Patent document

k

Discographies

l

Legislation

m

Theses  Item is a thesis, dissertation, or work identified as having been created to satisfy the requirements for an academic certification or degree.

n

Surveys of literature in a subject area

o

Reviews  Item is devoted entirely to critical reviews of published or performed works (e.g., books, films, sound recordings, theater).

p

Programmed texts

q

Filmographies

r

Directories

s

Statistics

t

Technical reports

u

Standards/specifications

v

Legal cases and case notes

w

Law reports and digests

y

Yearbooks

z

Treaties

2

Offprints

5

Calendars

6

Comics/graphic novels

|

No attempt to code

 

See:  Examples

Content designator history:

h - Handbooks  [obsolete]  [USMARC only]:  Prior to 1979, handbooks were identified by code h; code f is currently used.

k - Official standards  [redefined, 1997]  [CAN/MARC only]

q - Examination papers  [redefined, 1997]  [CAN/MARC only]

u - Standards/specifications  [new, 2002]

x - Technical reports  [obsolete, 1997]  [CAN/MARC only]

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

2 - Offprints  [new, 2007]

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

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

5 - Calendars  [new, 2008]

6 - Comics/graphic novels  [new, 2008]

In 1987, discographies were changed to code k.  Prior to 1987, discographies were identified by code b.

See also:

006 and 008:  Books

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