Library of Congress

MDS Technical Notice

November 18, 2002

Field 072 No Longer Supplied for Maps Records

Starting December 1, 2002, the Library of Congress will cease adding subject category codes in field 072 to bibliographic records created by the Geography and Map Division. This affects records distributed via MDS-Maps. The Division has decided to discontinue using field 072 to cut cataloging costs and because the field is not accessed by the Geography and Map Division reference staff. Additionally, the information supplied by the code is duplicative of information elsewhere in the bibliographic record. Outside agencies have been queried as to the impact of this action. Based upon responses it appears that the impact will be minimal.

Records from outside cataloging agencies that contain field 072 will continue to be accepted and distributed via MDS-Maps.