5: Describing Carriers and Content

1. Content type2. Media type3. Carrier type4. Extent5. Describing content6. Other content attributes

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Where are the instructions?

• Chapter 3: Describing Carriers• Chapter 6: Identifying Works and Expressions

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Content, media, carrier types

• Three RDA elements and MARC fields– Content type RDA 6.9 336 field– Media type RDA 3.2 337 field – Carrier type RDA 3.3 338 field

• Content relates to Expression– Section 3, Chapter 6

• Media and Carrier relate to Manifestation– Section 1, Chapter 3

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Replacement of GMD

• RDA has no provision for General Material Designation (GMD)

• RDA introduces instead– Content type (6.9)– Media type (3.2)– Carrier type (3.3)

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Controlled vocabularies

• Closed lists in RDA 6.9.1.3, RDA 3.2.1.3, RDA 3.3.1.3• If more than one term is appropriate, two choices:– Pick the term representing the predominant or most

substantial content/media/carrier– Give all: repeat entire field or just subfield $a

• If no term is appropriate, record “other” and notify LC via a message to LChelp4rda@loc.gov

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Recording these elements

• In each of the three fields for these elements (336-338):– $a [term]– $b [code]– $2 rdacontent or rdamedia or rdacarrier

(as appropriate)– $3 materials specified - give if

appropriate

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MARC 336, 337, and 338

• Content type = 336• Media type = 337• Carrier type = 338

• Subfields: $a term $b code $2 source

• May repeat 33X field or repeat subfield $a within a single 33X field

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Content type

• Categorization reflecting the fundamental form of communication in which the content is expressed and the human sense through which it is intended to be perceived. (RDA 6.9.1)

• Content type RDA 6.9.1.3, Table 6.1– cartographic image, computer dataset, notated music,

performed music, sounds, text, three-dimensional moving image

– If none apply, use “other”; if not certain, use “unspecified”

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Content type

• RDA core element for expression• MARC 21 field 336

Example: 336 ## $a text $b txt $2 rdacontent

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Media type

• Media type: is a categorization reflecting the general type of intermediation device required to view, play, run, etc., the content of a resource. (RDA 3.2.1.1)

• Media type RDA 3.2.1.3, Table 3.1– Audio, computer, microform, microscopic, projected,

stereographic, unmediated, video;– If none apply, use “other”; if not certain, use “unspecified”

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Media type

• LC-PCC core element for manifestation• MARC 21 field 337

Example:337 ## $a unmediated $b n $2 rdamedia

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Carrier type

• Categorization reflecting the format of the storage medium and housing of a carrier in combination with the type of intermediation device required to view, play, run, etc., the content of a resource. (RDA 3.3.1.1)

• Carrier type RDA 3.3.1.3– Specific terms for audio, computer, microform, carriers,

etc. carriers– If none apply, use “other”; if not certain, use “unspecified”

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Carrier type

• RDA core element for manifestation• MARC 21 field 338

Example: 338 ## $a volume $b nc $2 rdacarrier

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Example: print

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Example: online

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Example: print

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Example: computer discs

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Extent (3.4.1.10)

• The number and type of units and/or subunits making up a resource (MARC 300 subfield $a)

• Give complete and full extent for ceased serial if known (RDA and LC-PCC PS 3.4.1.10)

• If the actual number is not known for a ceased serial, give at least the term “volumes” or other appropriate carrier type

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Extent

• RDA core: Provide carrier term for ceased serials in all formats. May enter carrier term alone. E.g.:

300 ## $a volumes300 ## $a 1 online resource

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Extent

• CONSER practice: Always provide carrier term for tangible, live non-print serials

• Live serials in other formats– Can optionally provide carrier terms such as

“volumes” even if not ceased

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Example: Extent (& dimensions)

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Describing content

• Content Attributes Recorded in the MARC 300 Field• General Guidelines on Describing Content• Content -- Attributes of the Work• Content -- Attributes of the Expression

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Content attributes: MARC 300 field

• Because these elements are related to content, they are covered in RDA Chapter 7, not Chapter 3– Duration (7.22)– Illustrative Content (7.15)– Colour Content (7.17)

• 300 field is a mix of carrier and content

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Illustrative content (RDA 7.15)

• Do not use abbreviations – color (not “col.”)– sound (not “sd.”)– silent (not “si.”)– illustrations (not “ill.”)

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Colour Content (7.17)

• Scope = “the presence of colour, tone, etc., … also the specific colours, tones, etc.”

• Source: “the resource itself” • Record if “other than black and white …” • LC-PCC PS 7.17.1.3: use spelling “color” • MARC 300 $b

color (illustrations are in color) some color (10 illustrations, some of which are in color)

chiefly color (illustrations, most of which are in color)

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Other Content Attributes

• RDA Chapter 7• Sources– Take information used to describe content from the

resource itself– In certain cases the information may be taken from

sources outside the resource

• Divided into “Attributes of the Work” and “Attributes of the Expression”– Focus here is on expression level attributes language and

script

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Language of the content (7.12)

• LC-PCC core• Scope = “a language used to express the content of a

resource”• LC-PCC PS 7.12.1.3

– “… also supply the languages of other content (summaries, tables of contents, etc.) if it will assist identification and selection”

• MARC 008/35-37, 041, and 546– Use form found in MARC Code List for Languages

041 ## $a fre $a eng $a ita546 ## $a Articles chiefly in French; one

article each in English and Italian. 5-27

Form of notation (7.13)

• LC-PCC core for some scripts • Scope = “set of characters and/or symbols used to

express the content of a resource”• LC-PCC PS 7.13.2.3• MARC 546

546 ## $a Azerbaijani $b Arabic.For a publication using the Arabic script

546 ## $a Azerbaijani $b Cyrillic.For a publication using the Cyrillic script

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Summary (1)

• Instructions, controlled lists in: – RDA 3 = carriers, media– RDA 6 = content

• MARC 21: 336, 337, 338– Work the same way: controlled lists, repeatable,

same subfields

• Extent required: current tangible, non-print formats & e-serials; and completed serials in all formats when total extent is known.

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Summary (2)

• Content attributes such as color and illustrations provided in 300 and note fields

• Other content attributes such as language and script are coded in MARC 21 fixed fields and variable fields.

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Exercises

• For each of the records in the next several slides, determine whether the data in the MARC record are coded correctly.– If the coding is incorrect, what would you do to

the specified fields to correct it?

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Exercise 1

Form: o 008/23 Form of item: onlineOrig: o 008/22 Form of original: online

245 00 $a Frontiers in Pediatrics.300 ## $a 1 online resource336 ## $a text $b txt $2 rdacontent337 ## $a computer $b c $2 rdamedia338 ## $a online resource $b cr $2 rdacarrier

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Exercise 2

Form: #Orig: ∎

245 00 $a Journal of psychological health.300 ## $a volumes ; $c 25 cm336 ## $a text $2 rdacontent337 ## $a computer $2 rdamedia338 ## $a computer disc $2 rdacarrier

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Exercise 3

041 0# $a dan245 00 $a Twentyfirst.300 ## $a vol. : $b col. ill. ; $c 28 cm336 ## $a text $b txt $2 rdacontent337 ## $a unmediated $b n $2 rdamedia338 ## $a volume $b nc $2 rdacarrier546 ## $a In English with some articles also in Danish.

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