Note (March 8, 1996): The determination "rule" and the definitions of codes p and t were slightly altered at the request of the Society of American Archivists pending the outcome of discussions at the July 1996 USMARC Advisory Group meetings. The revised text below will appear in Update No. 2 (March 1996) to the Bibliographic format.
06 TYPE OF RECORD
The Type of record character position contains a one-character alphabetic code that differentiates USMARC records created for various forms of material. The code is also used to identify the type of field 008 (Fixed Length Data Elements) contained in the record.
Microforms, whether original or reproductions, are not identified by a distinctive Type of record code. The form of material characteristics described by the codes take precedence over the microform characteristics of the item.
Determination of code for a multi-item bibliographic entity (types of material are those specified by values a-t below):
Items are multiple forms of material
o - entity is issued as a single unit, no type of material
predominates
p - entity is made-up collection, no type of material
predominates
any except o or p - entity is made up collection, one type of material
predominates
Items are all one form of material
any except o or p - all cases
a - Language material
Code a indicates that the content of the record is for non-manuscript
language material. Use for microforms that are basically textual in
nature, whether reproductions from print or originally produced.
Manuscript language material uses code t.
c - Printed music
Code c indicates that the content of the record is for printed music or a
microform of printed music.
d - Manuscript music
Code d indicates that the content of the record is for manuscript music or
a microform of manuscript music.
e - Cartographic material
Code e indicates that the content of the record is for non-manuscript
cartographic material or a microform of non-manuscript cartographic
material. This code is used for maps, atlases, globes, digital maps and
other cartographic items.
f - Manuscript cartographic material
Code f indicates that the content of the record is for manuscript
cartographic material or a microform of manuscript cartographic material.
g - Projected medium
Code g indicates that the content of the record is for a motion picture,
videorecording, filmstrip, slide, or transparency. All of these media
are intended for projection. Material specifically designed for overhead
projection is also included in this category.
i - Nonmusical sound recording
Code i indicates that the content of the record is for a recording of
nonmusical sounds (e.g., speech).
j - Musical sound recording
Code j indicates that the content of the record is for a musical
sound recording.
k - Two-dimensional nonprojectable graphic
Code k indicates that the content of the record is for a two-dimensional
nonprojectable graphic. Examples are activity cards, charts, collages,
computer graphics, drawings, duplication masters, flash cards, paintings,
photonegatives, photoprints, pictures, postcards, posters, prints, spirit
masters, study prints, technical drawings, transparency masters, and
reproductions of any of these.
m - Computer file
Code m indicates that the content of the record is for a body of
information encoded in a manner which allows it to be processed by a
computer. The information in the computer file may be numeric or textual
data, computer software, or a combination of these. Although a
file may be stored on a variety of media (such as magnetic tape or disk,
punched cards, or optical character recognition font documents), the file
itself is independent of the medium on which it is stored.
o - Kit
Code o indicates that the content of the record is for a mixture of
various components issued as a unit and intended primarily for
instructional purposes. No one component is identifiable as the
predominant component of the item. Examples are packages of
assorted material, such as a set of K-12 social studies curriculum
material (books, workbooks, guides, activities, etc.), packages of
educational test materials (tests, answer sheets, scoring guides, score
charts, interpretative manuals, etc.), or a laboratory kit.
p - Mixed material
Code p indicates that the content of the record is for two or more
forms of material that is usually related by virtue of its having
been accumulated by or about a person or body. No one form of material
in the group is emphasized or predominates. The intended primary purpose
is other than for instructional purposes (i.e., other than the purpose of
those materials coded as o--Kit). This category includes archival and
manuscript collections of mixed forms of materials, such as language
material, photographs, and realia.
r - Three-dimensional artifact or naturally occurring
object
Code r indicates that the content of the record is for a three-dimensional artifact or a naturally
occurring object. Examples are man-made objects such as models,
dioramas, games, puzzles, simulations, sculptures, and other three-dimensional art works,
exhibits, machines, clothing, toys, and stitchery. It also includes
naturally occurring objects such as, microscope specimens (or
representations of them) and other specimens mounted for viewing.
t - Manuscript language material
Code t indicates that the content of the record is for manuscript
language material or a microform of manuscript language material. This
category is applied to items for language material in handwriting,
typescript, or computer printout including printed materials completed by
hand or by keyboard. At the time it is created this material is usually
intended, either implicitly or explicitly, to exist as a single
instance. Examples include marked or corrected galley and page proofs, manuscript books, legal
papers, and unpublished theses and dissertations.
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