008  Fixed-Length Data Elements (NR)  (Variable Control Field)

Field definition and scope:

Field 008 contains 40 character positions (00-39) that provide coded information about the record as a whole or about special aspects of the 1XX heading or 4XX / 5XX tracing fields.  These coded data elements are potentially useful for retrieval and data management purposes.

The data elements are positionally defined.  Character positions that are not defined contain a blank ( # ).  All defined character positions must contain a defined code; for some 008 positions, this may be the fill character ( | ).  The fill character may be used in certain character positions when the cataloging organization makes no attempt to code the character position.  The fill character is not allowed in field 008 positions 00-05 (Date entered on file) or 09 (Kind of record).  Code n (Not applicable), when it is defined for a data element, indicates that the character position definition does not apply to the record.

The National level record requirement for this field is Mandatory.

Field 008 is NOT repeatable.

Guidelines for applying content designators:

Field 008 has no indicators or subfield codes.  The data elements are positionally defined.

The table below includes all 40 character positions of the 008 field in authority records.  Positions are conventionally numbered zero (0) through 39.  For information on a specific character position and its codes, select:

Input conventions:

Capitalization

Field length

System-generated data elements

Content designator history:

008/07  Romanization scheme

008/08  Language of catalog

008/10  Descriptive cataloging rules

008/11  Subject heading system/thesaurus

008/17  Type of subject subdivision

008/28  Type of government agency

008/29  Reference evaluation

008/30  Undefined

008/35- 37 Undefined

008/39  Cataloging source

008/40  Fill character usage  [obsolete, 1997]  [CAN/MARC only]:  The defined values were:  0 (Fill character not used), 1 (Fill character used only in control fields (001-009)), 2 (Fill character used only in content designators of variable fields), 3 (Fill character used only in the control subfield $w), 4 (Fill character used in control fields (001-009) and $w), 5 (Fill character used in control fields (001-009) and content designators of variable fields), 6 (Fill character used in content designators of variable fields and $w), and 9 (Fill character used in control fields (001-009), content designators of variable fields and $w).

See also:

Variable Control Fields