Physical Description:

MARC tag 300

Definition

The physical description of the item, which consists of the extent of the item and its dimensions. Use field 300 also for other physical details of the item and information concerning accompanying material.

From OCLC bibliographic formats and standards, MARC tag 300

MARC tag 300Commonly used subfields: Extent ($a)• Other physical details ($b)• Dimensions ($c)• Accompanying material ($e)

Source of information Entire resource

ISBD punctuation Colon before subfield b Semi-colon before subfield c Plus sign before subfield e

Extent (subfield a)--Books Record the number of pages (printed on both sides) or leaves (printed

on only one side) Record the last numbered page or leaf in each sequence – xii, 27 p. If there are many sequences – 1 v. (various pagings) If an unnumbered sequence makes up a large part of the whole, include in

brackets – 125, [40] p. For a set of volumes – 26 v. If the book is large print – 355 p. (large print) If the book is braille – 100 leaves of braille If a book contains plates, record the number of leaves or pages of plates at

the end of the sequence of numbering – 150 p., [16] leaves of plates Plate: a leaf or page that does not form part of the preliminary or main

sequence of numbering AACR—abbreviate “pages”, “volume”, etc. as instructed in Appendix B RDA—spell out “pages”, “volume”, etc.

Extent (subfield a)—Books (cont.)

If pages are not numbered: AACR

Supply number in brackets or Enter phrase “1 v. (unpaged)”

RDA Enter phrase “[number] unnumbered pages”—do not put in brackets

or Enter phrase “1 volume (unpaged)”

Other physical details (subfield b)--Books

Disregard illustrated title page and minor illustrations Disregard tables containing only words and/or numbers If illustrations are one or more of these types, use: coats of arms,

facsimiles, forms, genealogical tables, maps, music, plans, portraits, samples—enter in alphabetical order after ill.

Optionally, can use general term ill. for illustrations without specifying type If all illustrations are color – “col. ill.” If some illustrations are color – “ill. (some col.)” For graphic novels – “chiefly ill.” or “chiefly col. ill.” If the book is not illustrated, subfield b will not be present AACR—abbreviate types of illustrations as instructed in Appendix B RDA—spell out “illustrations”, “color”, “portraits”, etc.

Dimensions (subfield c)--Books Give height in centimeters Always round up If width is greater than height, give both height and width –

18 x 30 cm. If width is less than half the height, give both height and

width – 24 x 11 cm. AACR—period follows cm—considered an abbreviation RDA—cm considered a symbol, not an abbreviation

Period after cm only if 300 is followed by 490

Related fixed fields

Illustrations (Ills in OCLC) Code as appropriate when plates or other illustrations are present

Enter up to four codes in alphabetical order If fewer than four codes apply, left-justify and leave the remaining spaces

blank If more than four codes apply, enter the first four codes

If there are no plates or illustrations, leave blank Form of Item (Form in OCLC)

Code as appropriate if item is large print or braille

Examples—Books

AACR

300 $axxi, 254 p. :$bill. (some col.) ;$c18 cm.

300 $a550 p. (large print) ;$c25 cm.

300 $a150 leaves :$bill., ports. ;$c18 x 24 cm.

300 $a[15] leaves, [8] leaves of plates ;$c28 cm.

300 $a1 v. (unpaged) :$bchiefly col. ill. ;$c25 cm.

300 $a1 v. (various pagings) ;$c30 x 14 cm.

300 $a3 v. :$bill., coats of arms, geneal. tables ;$c19 cm.

Extent (subfield a)—Books—Examples

RDA

300 $axxi, 254 pages :$billustrations (some color) ;$c18 cm

300 $a550 pages (large print) ;$c25 cm. (490 is present)

300 $a150 leaves :$billustrations, portraits ;$c18 x 24 cm

300 $a15 unnumbered leaves, 8 unnumbered leaves of plates ;$c28 cm. (490 is present)

300 $a1 volume (various pagings) ;$c30 x 14 cm. (490 is present)

300 $a1 volume (unpaged) :$bchiefly color illustrations ;$c25 cm

300 $a3 volumes :$billustrations, coats of arms, genealogical tables ;$c19 cm

Extent (subfield a)—Sound recordings Record the number and type of physical units (discs, tapes, etc.) and

playing time AACR

Use the term “sound disc(s)” or “sound cassette(s)” Give the total duration in parenthesis after the units if stated on the item

or readily ascertainable. Use abbreviations “hr.”, “min.”, “sec.” Use abbreviation “ca.” if time is approximate

RDA Use the term “audio discs” or “audiocassettes” Give the total duration if stated on the item or readily ascertainable. Use

abbreviations as above for units of time. Use “approximately” instead of “ca.”

Both If the resource has more than one unit, can give the playing time of each

unit, followed by “each”

Other physical details (subfield b)—Sound recordings

Give the following details, as appropriate, in this order: Type of recording (analog or digital) Playing speed

AACR• Do not give playing speed if it is standard for the type of item• Use abbreviations ips, mps, rpm• Do give playing speed for analog discs, i.e., LP albums, (33 1/3 rpm)

RDA• Record playing speed if considered important for identification or selection • Use the same abbreviations as AACR

Groove characteristic (for analog discs) Track configuration (for sound track films)

Other physical details (subfield b)—Sound recordings—cont.

Number of tracks (give only if the number of tracks is not standard for the type of item)

Sound channels AACR

• Use these terms: mono., stereo., quad., surround RDA

• Use these terms: mono, stereo, quadrophonic, surround Recording and reproduction characteristics (i.e. Dolby processed,

NAB standard)

Dimensions (subfield c)—Sound recordings

AACR--Give the diameter of a disc or the width of a tape in inches Compact disc - 4 ¾ in. LP album - 12 in. Cassette tape - ¼ in.

Exception: give the width of an analog tape only if it is not the standard size. Otherwise, omit subfield c

RDA—Instruction is to give dimensions in cm or mm, but allows alternative of using measurements preferred by cataloging agency We are following LC practice for alternative, and using inches Use the abbreviation “in.” May see two periods at the end of the 300 field, if 490 is present

Related field--007

Some information in the 007 is coded from data in the 300—make sure they agree!

Sound recordings—ExamplesAACR

300 $a1 sound disc (46 min., 56 sec.) :$bdigital ;$c4 ¾ in.

300 $a5 sound discs (ca. 30 min. each) :$bdigital, stereo. ; $c4 ¾ in.

300 $a 1 sound cassette : $b analog

RDA

300 $a1 audio disc (46 min., 56 sec.) :$bdigital ;$c4 ¾ in.

300 $a5 audio discs (approximately 30 min. each) :$bdigital, stereo ; $c4 ¾ in.. (490 is present)

300 $a 1 audio cassette : $b analog ;$c¼ in.

Extent (subfield a)—Videorecordings Record the number and type of physical units (discs, tapes, etc.) and

playing time AACR

Use the term “videodisc(s)” or “videocassettes(s)” Give the duration of the feature presentation in parenthesis after the units, if

stated on the item or readily ascertainable. Do not include duration of special features. Use abbreviations “hr.”, “min.”, “sec.” Use abbreviation “ca.” if time is approximate

RDA Use the term “videodisc(s)” or “videocassette(s)” Give the duration of the feature presentation if stated on the item or readily

ascertainable. Use abbreviations as above for units of time. Use “approximately” instead of “ca.”

Both If the resource has more than one unit, can give the playing time of each unit,

followed by “each”

Other physical details (Subfield b)—Videorecordings

Record sound and color characteristics AACR—abbreviate as instructed in Appendix B

Sound – sd. Silent – si. Color – col. Black and white – b&w

RDA—do not abbreviate

Dimensions (subfield c)—Videorecordings

AACR--Give the diameter of a disc or the width of a tape in inches Standard diameter of a DVD or Blu-ray disc is 4 ¾ in. Standard width a videocassette tape is ½ in. Use the abbreviation “in.”

RDA—Give the diameter of a disc in inches (per LC policy statement), and the width of a tape in millimeters Standard width of a videocassette is 13 mm Use the abbreviation “in.” for discs

Related fixed fields--Videorecordings Running time (Time in OCLC)

Code the running time of the feature presentation Use a three-digit number to represent minutes Convert seconds to the next higher minute Right-justify numbers consisting of fewer than three digits and each unused

position contains a zero Enter leading zeros Enter three zeros if the actual length exceeds three digits Use the total running time if two or more motion pictures or videorecordings are

present Enter three hyphens if the length is unknown

Type of visual material (Tmat in OCLC) Code based on term in 300 subfield a

Related field--007

Some information in the 007 is coded from data in the 300—make sure they agree!

Videorecordings—ExamplesAACR

300 $a1 videodisc (149 min.) :$bsd., col. ;$c4 ¾ in.

300 $a5 videodiscs (ca. 891 min.) :$bsd., col. with b&w sequences ;$c4 ¾ in.

300 $a1 videocassette :$bsi., b&w ;$c ½ in.

RDA

300 $a1 videodisc (149 min.) :$bsound, color ;$c4 ¾ in.

300 $a5 videodiscs (approximately 891 min.) :$bsound, color with black and white sequences ;$c4 ¾ in.. (490 is present)

300 $a1 videocassette :$bsilent, black and white ;$c13 mm

Extent (subfield a)—Kits and Realia

Kits—two options List all of the items (i.e., 4 posters, 1 chart, 2 news sheets, 1

teacher’s guide) or Use a generic term (i.e. 1 kit, or, various pieces)

Give information on the specific contents of the kit in a 500 note Realia

Give the type of item and the number Use AACR gmd terms if appropriate (i.e,. 1 game) If there is no gmd term, give a concise description (i.e., 3 quilts) Include the number of pieces if appropriate (i.e., 1 jigsaw puzzle (500

pieces))

Other physical details (subfield b)—Kits and Realia

Kits Subfield b will not generally be present, unless all of the pieces

are of the same material (i.e., plastic)

Realia If appropriate, give the material of the object(s) (i.e., cotton)

If material can’t be given concisely, either omit it, or give it in a note Give the color(s) of the object(s), or use “col.” for multicolored

objects RDA: do not abbreviate

Dimensions (subfield c)—Kits and Realia

Kits Give the dimensions of the container in centimeters

Give as height x width x depth

Realia Give the dimensions of the object, if easily obtained

Give as height x width x depth Give the dimensions of the container, either instead of or in

addition to the dimensions of the object Give as height x width x depth

Give dimensions in centimeters

Examples – Kits and RealiaAACR

300 $a4 posters, 1 chart, 2 news sheets, 1 teacher’s guide ;$cin container 37 x 23 x 10 cm.

300 $a28 various pieces ;$cin container 34 x 34 x 34 cm.

300 $a1 bowl :$bporcelain, blue and white ;$c25 x 20 x 18 cm. in case 30 x 30 x 30 cm.

RDA—Done as in AACR, except for abbreviations

300 $a1 kit (40 pieces) :$bplastic ;$cin box 36 x 30 x 30 cm

300 $a1 jigsaw puzzle (500 pieces) :$bcolor ;$cin box 17 x 34 x 6 cm

RDA—Done as in AACR, except for abbreviations

Accompanying Material (subfield e)—All formats

Give details as you would describe the item in an individual record 300 _ _ $a450 p. :$bcol. ill. ;$c28 cm. +$e1 sound disc (32 min. : digital,

stereo. ; 4 ¾ in.) 300 _ _ $a450 pages :$bcolor illustrations ;$c28 cm +$e1 audio disc (32

min. : digital, stereo ; 4 ¾ in.) 300 _ _ $a50 p. :$bill., maps, ports. ; $c30 cm. +$e1 teacher’s guide (10

p. : ill. ; 18 cm.) 300 _ _ $a50 pages :$billustrations, maps, portraits ; $c30 cm +$e1

teacher’s guide (10 pages : illustrations ; 18 cm) Include related fields 006 and 007 as appropriate

ReminderSHARE cataloging standard on records for the same item with and without accompanying material:

An item with substantive accompanying material should be cataloged on a separate record from the same item that does not include the accompanying material. Records will not be merged in this instance. This is in accordance with OCLC’s policy on accompanying material.

For more information-- MARC Coding

OCLC bibliographic formats and standards Through Connexion or, On OCLC website: www.oclc.org/bibformats/en.html

MARC21 format for bibliographic data On Library of Congress website: www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic

Cataloging rules Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, 2nd ed. (AACR2) – print only Resource Description and Access (RDA)

Print Online: www.rdatoolkit.org (subscription required)