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

Field definition and scope:

Field 008 contains thirty-two (32) character positions (00-31) that provide coded information about the record.  Some of the codes relate to coded values in Z39.71.  Others are potentially useful for retrieval and data management purposes.

The data elements are positionally defined.  Each defined character position must contain either a defined code or a fill character ( | ).  The fill character is used when the reporting organization makes no attempt to code the character position.

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 32 character positions of the 008 field in holdings records.  Positions are conventionally numbered zero (0) through 31.  For information on a specific character position and its codes, select:

Input conventions:

System-generated data elements:  008/00-05 (Date entered on file) and 008/26-31 (Date of report) are usually system generated.  The generation of other 008 data elements depends upon the capabilities of an individual system.

Capitalization:  Alphabetic codes are input in lowercase.

Embedded holdings information:  When holdings information is embedded in a related MARC bibliographic record, the coded information in field 008/00-31 may be contained in subfield $b (Fixed-length data elements) of field 841 (Holdings Coded Data Values), which is also embedded in the bibliographic record.

Content designator history:

008/06  Receipt or acquisition status  [renamed, 2019]

008/07  Method of acquisition

008/08-11  Expected acquisition end date

008/12  General retention policy

008/20  Lending policy

008/40  Fill character usage  [obsolete, 1997]  [CAN/MARC only]

See also:

Variable Control Fields