Introduction to Description Conventions
This section contains a list of works which document descriptive cataloging conventions, along with the code assigned to each work. The purpose of this list is to allow the description conventions used in a USMARC record to be designated by a code in that record. The description conventions used in creating the record are specified when the rules used for formulating the description and/or access points are not based on AACR or are not consistent with AACR. They are also used to record the application of AACR2-based manuals for special forms of materials.
The code assigned to the work is derived from its title and consists of a maximum of eight lowercase characters. Entries in the following list are arranged in alphabetical order by the code and consist of the code followed by the bibliographic citation for the work.
When used, the code may be followed by the edition and/or date of publication of the work. The code, edition, and/or date are separated by a slash (/). Omission of the year and/or edition will imply that the assigning institution used the most recent edition of the work available.
Description Conventions Example #1
To identify a translation of description conventions into a language other than the original, a second slash is used, followed by the USMARC code for the name of the language. If no edition is given, both slashes must appear between the source code and the code for the language. The source of the USMARC language code is USMARC Code List for Languages that is maintained by the Library of Congress.
Description Conventions Example #2
See also:
