About the Library of Congress Descriptive Cataloging Manual (DCM) PDF Files
The Library of Congress Descriptive Cataloging Manual (DCM) contains local cataloging policy and practices for Library of Congress (LC) staff generally, and LC/NACO policies for name and series authority records (DCM sections Z1 and Z12). Listed below are the most current versions of the DCM files, available for free download. The LC Guidelines Supplement to the MARC 21 Format for Authority Data (to be used in conjunction with DCM section Z1) is also included here.
Note: The formatting of the files is inconsistent, due to their conversion from various source file formats. Some of the revision dates are estimated, based on the content. Some of the content is out-of-date and represents historical practice. Updates to the documents are made as time permits.
Summaries of changes to DCM files from 2006-present, together with copies of previous versions of the files, are available at: https://www.loc.gov/aba/publications/FreeDCM/freedcm-updates.html
B
- B4. Terminology (PDF, 150 KB, Oct. 2008)
- B5. Cataloging Basics (Descriptive Cataloging Aspect) (PDF, full document not yet available)
- B5.9 (Appendix 4): Searching (PDF, 189 KB, Aug. 1999)
- B5.10 (Appendix 5): Guidelines for Language Codes; Government Publication Codes (PDF, 76 KB, Aug. 2020)
- B5.11 (Appendix 6): Nonroman Scripts/Data (PDF, 168 KB, Mar. 1992)
- B5.12 (Appendix 7): New Input (PDF, 220 KB, Feb. 2025)
- B5.13 (Appendix 8): Collections Management Information in Bibliographic Records (PDF, 146 KB, March 1992)
- B5.14 (Appendix 9): Publication, Etc. Date Codes for Monographs (PDF, 37 KB, Nov. 2013)
- B6. Referring/Forwarding (PDF, 198 KB, Feb. 2010)
- B9. Cataloger's Notes (952 Field) (Monographs) (PDF, 204 KB, Nov. 2008)
- B11. Minimal Level Cataloging (MLC): Books (PDF, 136 KB, Aug. 2017)
- B13. Copy Cataloging Manual (PDF, 730 KB, document available but not yet fully formatted)
- B15. Miniature Books (PDF, 185 KB, May 1997)
- B16. Core Level Cataloging (PDF, 359 KB, May 2008)
- B17. Copy-Specific Data Elements: General and Rare Book Cataloging (PDF, 254 KB, Aug. 2007)
- B18. Book With Accompanying Electronic Resources (PDF, 281 KB, Aug. 2022)
- B20. Books and Scores with Accompanying Sound Recordings (PDF, 36 KB, April 2017)
- B21. Books with Accompanying Videorecordings (PDF, 205 KB, Aug. 2017)
C
- C1. Cataloging Priorities and Levels of Cataloging (PDF, 202 KB, Oct. 1998)
- C3. Library of Congress Control Number (LCCN) -- Restructuring to Accommodate Century Change (PDF, 185 KB; Feb. 2007)
- C5. Issues Related to the Physical Condition of a Resource (PDF, 107 KB, Aug. 2017)
- C6. Providing Guidelines for Dividing Large Unbound or Softbound Volumes Before Binding (PDF, 233 KB, Oct. 2008)
- C7. Records for Selection Decision; Records Retained for Audit Trail; Surplus Copies (PDF, 240 KB, Sept. 2002)
- C8. Procedures Applicable to Materials in Offsite/Fixed Locations (PDF, 178 KB, Oct. 2023)
- C12. Multipart Items and Added Volumes (PDF, 233 KB, Oct. 2008)
- C14. Collection-Level Cataloging (PDF, 377 KB, Oct. 2008)
- C16. The LC Local Bibliographic Record and Local Data Fields (PDF, 247 KB, Aug. 2019)
- C17. Books Issued in Fascicles (PDF, 194 KB, July 2005)
- C18. 2A Cataloging (PDF, 184 KB, 2008)
D
- D8. Cataloging in Publication Procedures (PDF, 664 KB, Nov. 2013)
- D22. Procedures for Handling Imperfect Copies (PDF, 196 KB, Dec. 2001)
E
- E1. Cataloging Streams/Initial Bibliographic Control: Books (PDF, 415 KB, Feb. 2009)
- E2. Using Already Existing Records for IBC (PDF, 341 KB, Aug. 2005)
- E3. Copyright Paperback Collection (PDF, 208 KB, Aug. 2005)
- E4. Label Placement (Call/Shelf Number; Item Barcode): Books (PDF, 150 KB, August 2024)
M
- M1. Linking Bibliographic Records for Microreproductions to Records for Originals (Monographs) (PDF, 247 KB, Aug. 1991)
- M3. Bibliographic and Authority Database Maintenance in the LC ILS (PDF, 126 KB, April 2016)
- M4. Serial versus Non-serial Cataloging Treatment in LC (PDF, 323 KB, July 2013)
- M5. Library of Congress Series Policy (PDF, 42 KB, Feb. 2020)
- M6. Recommended Session Defaults and Preferences in the LC ILS Cataloging Module (PDF, 264 KB, Aug. 2021)
- M7. The LC ILS MARC Record Validator (PDF, 193 KB, Oct. 2018)
S
- S1. PREMARC File/PREMARC Replacement Process (PDF, 270 KB, Oct. 2008)
Z
- Z1. Name and Series Authority Records (PDF, 2.2 MB, Oct. 2024)
- Z12. Special Projects Involving Name Authority Records and Bibliographic Records (PDF, 127 KB, Oct. 2018)
LC Guidelines Supplement to the MARC 21 Format for Authority Data
- LC Guidelines Supplement to the MARC 21 Format for Authority Data (PDF, 1.13 MB, Aug. 2024)
