Field definition and scope:

Field 538 contains technical information about an item, such as the presence or absence of certain kinds of codes; or the physical characteristics of a computer file, such as recording densities, parity, blocking factors, mode of access, software programming language, computer requirements, peripheral requirements, trade name or recording systems, number of lines of resolution, and modulation frequency.

For sound and videorecordings, information about the trade name or recording system(s) (e.g., VHS, Beta, etc.), modulation frequency and number of lines of resolution may be included.

Links to technical details relating to digital resources may also be recorded.

For software, computer requirements may include computer manufacturer and model, operating system, or memory requirements; peripheral requirements may include number of tape drives, number of disk or drum units, number of terminals, or other peripheral devices, support software, or related equipment.

The National level record requirement for this field is Optional.

Field 538 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 538

System Details Note

O

O

R

Indicator:

 

 

 

 

First

Undefined; contains a blank

M

 

 

Second

Undefined; contains a blank

M

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subfield code:

 

 

 

 

$a

System details note

M

O

NR

$i

Display text

A

O

NR

$u

Uniform Resource Identifier

A

O

R

$3

Materials specified

A

O

NR

$5

Institution to which field applies

A

O

R

$6

Linkage

A

O

NR

$8

Field link and sequence number

O

O

R

Input conventions:

Punctuation

Content designator history:

Subfields  $i - Display text  [new, 2003]

$u - Uniform Resource Identifier  [new, 2003]

$3 - Materials specified  [new, 2003]

$5 - Institution to which field applies  [new, 2007]

Related MARC field or document:

880  Alternate Graphic Representation

See also:

5XX  Note Fields

Variable Data Fields