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MARC Field Reference - 3xx Fields

This is a reference to SWAN cataloging standards regarding 3xx physical description, content/media/carrier type, physical medium, and related fields.

Field  Description Required  Format
300  Physical Description Required  All
310  Current Publication Frequency Required  Serials
336  Content Type Required  All
337  Media Type Required   All
338  Carrier Type Required  All
340  Physical Medium Required  Large  Print
362 Dates of Publication and/or Sequential Designation Required  Serials

300 Field

Do not combine varying formats under a single term when separate terms are more clear. For example, a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack should be represented with the Blu-ray disc and DVD separate. Instead of "2 videodiscs", use:

300  1 Blu-ray disc (120 minutes) :|b sound color ;|c 4 3/4 in. +|e 1 videodisc (DVD).

Pagination in subfield 'a' should reflect what appears on the source, including the pages with Roman numerals. Special compilations, graphic novels, etc., may include a variety of paginations that correspond to specific comic panels, or stories within the same volume, thus making it difficult to accurately represent the number of pages. 

In cases of ambiguity and to prevent misinformation and duplicate records, there are different ways to add the information to subfield 'a'. Remember that including a 500 explanatory note is very helpful. 

Example 1: 

300  1 volume (various pagings) :|bchiefly color illustrations ;|c22 cm
500  Pagination corresponds to specific comic panels. Some pages include multiple numbered panels.    

Example 2: 

300  250 pages in various pagings :|billustrations,|c25 cm

300 field subfield 'b' and its correlation to the 344 and 347 tags

Subfield 'b' is optional for AUDIOBOOKs and CDs only if the record contains pertaining information about the sound and digital file characteristics in the 344 and 347 respectively. 

For AUDIOBOOK  and CD records missing subfield 'b' in the 300 tag, the following information is required: 

344  digital |2rdatr 
344  |boptical |2rdarm
344  |c1.4 m/s
347  audio file |2rdaft
347  |bCD audio

310 - Field 

Serials records must have the 310 field containing the current publication frequency. 


336, 337, and 338 Fields

These tags represent how a work is expressed, and there has been a proliferation of OCLC records missing subfield 'b'. Subfield 'b' is the code for the term in subfield 'a' and it works in conjunction with the fixed field to determine the record format. 

Include subfields |a, |b, and |2 in all cases, except in the cases of AUDIOBOOK and CD records IF those records contain the necessary 34X tags. 

340 Field

This field is required for large print materials. Please include one of the following statements depending on the font size:

340    |nlarge print |2rdafs

or

340    |ngiant print |2rdafs

362 Field 

Use it for serials publications. Dates to be used in this field are chronological designations that identify individual issues of the continuing resource. Dates can be formatted or unformatted. First indicator "0" means formatted date ; first indicator "1" means unformatted date.  

362 0_ Volume 1-March 3, 1923-