Cataloger's Reference Shelf
MARC 21 Format for Bibliographic Data
Cataloger's Reference Shelf
MARC 21 Format for Bibliographic Data
340 Physical Medium (R) (Variable Data Field)
Field 340 contains physical description information for an item that requires technical equipment for its use, and/or more granular description information of an item's material properties to facilitate access and discovery or to support collection management.
Coded physical information is contained in field 007 (Physical Description Fixed Field). The field is repeated for each subfield $3 (Materials specified).
Multiple values from the same source vocabulary may be recorded in the same field in separate occurrences of subfields. Terms from different source vocabularies are recorded in separate occurrences of the field.
The National level record requirement for this field is Mandatory if applicable.
Field 340 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 340 |
Physical Medium |
A |
O |
R |
Indicator: |
|
|
|
|
First |
Undefined; contains a blank |
M |
|
|
Second |
Undefined; contains a blank |
M |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subfield code: |
|
|
|
|
$a |
A |
O |
R |
|
$b |
A |
O |
R |
|
$c |
A |
O |
R |
|
$d |
A |
O |
R |
|
$e |
A |
O |
R |
|
$f |
A |
O |
R |
|
$g |
A |
O |
R |
|
$h |
A |
O |
R |
|
$i |
A |
O |
R |
|
$j |
A |
O |
R |
|
$k |
A |
O |
R |
|
$l |
|
|
R |
|
$m |
A |
O |
R |
|
$n |
A |
O |
R |
|
$o |
A |
O |
R |
|
$p |
|
|
R |
|
$0 |
O |
O |
R |
|
$1 |
|
|
R |
|
$2 |
M |
O |
NR |
|
$3 |
O |
O |
NR |
|
$6 |
A |
O |
NR |
|
$8 |
O |
O |
R |
Subfield
$g - Color
content [new, 2017]
Subfield
$j - Generation
[new, 2011]
Subfield
$k - Layout
[new, 2011]
Subfield
$l - Binding
[new, 2021]
Subfield
$m - Book
format [new, 2011]
Subfield
$n - Font
size [new, 2011]
Subfield
$o - Polarity
[new, 2011]
Subfield
$p - Illustrative
content [new, 2020]
Subfield
$0 - Authority
record control number or standard number [new, 2011]
Subfield $1 - Real
World Object URI [new, 2017]
Subfield
$2 - Source
[new, 2011]
Related MARC fields or documents:
007 Physical Description Fixed Field
880 Alternate Graphic Representation
RDA in MARC Bibliographic Data
See also: