Field definition and scope:

Field 521 contains a note about the target audience of the described materials.  It is primarily used when the contents of an item are considered appropriate for a specific audience or intellectual level (e.g., elementary school students).  It is used to record interest and motivation levels and special learner characteristics.  Information about the target audience and/or intellectual level may also be recorded in coded form in field 008/22 (Target audience) for some types of material.

If a computer files or visual materials record has both reading grade and interest age or interest grade level information present in 521 fields, field 008/22 is coded based on the interest age information.

Notes that include restrictions on access are recorded in field 506 (Restrictions on Access Note).

The note is sometimes displayed and/or printed with an introductory term that is generated as a display constant based on the first indicator value.

The National level record requirement for this field is Optional.

Field 521 is repeatable.

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 521

Target Audience Note

O

O

R

Indicator:

 

 

 

 

First

Display constant controller

M

 

 

#

Audience

A

 

 

0

Reading grade level

A

 

 

1

Interest age level

A

 

 

2

Interest grade level

A

 

 

3

Special audience characteristics

A

 

 

4

Motivation/interest level

A

 

 

8

No display constant generated

A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Second

Undefined; contains a blank

M

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subfield code:

 

 

 

 

$a

Target audience note

M

O

R

$b

Source

A

O

NR

$3

Materials specified

O

O

NR

$6

Linkage

A

O

NR

$8

Field link and sequence number

O

O

R

Input conventions:

Punctuation

Display constants

Related MARC fields or documents:

008/22  Target audience

506  Restrictions on Access Note

880  Alternate Graphic Representation

See also:

5XX  Note Fields

Variable Data Fields