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This page provides summary status information relating to the MARC 21 formats and related code lists published by the Network Development and MARC Standards Office.
Format documents. The principal documentation for the formats are the Full online and printed versions. A brief version of all five formats in Concise form is also available in both online and print form. Electronic field lists for all formats and a Lite form of the bibliographic format are available online only.
Official version. The Full online format is the Official standard for the format. It integrates all Updates (designated by number, month, and year) into the current edition's Base text (designated by month and year). The Full online format is updated annually and is generally available earlier than the printed update. Format changes occuring since the last format update should not be used in records until three months after they are published in the Full online MARC format documentation.
Other versions. Each Full printed format consists of a Base text and Updates. The online Concise version is updated at the same time as the Official (Full online) and the field lists are updated shortly thereafter. In case of any differences, the Official (Full online) is the standard. The print Full update and Concise edition are generally issued later than the online. The Lite bibliographic format is available only online and is updated with the Full and Concise.
Code lists. The Official version of the code lists are the online ones available online. These are maintained continuously. Occasionally a print version may be issued for country, geographic area and/or language codes to incorporate additions and changes. Code additions or changes may be used in MARC records as indicated in the announcement published on the MARC Website.
MARC 21 Format for Bibliographic Data (online and print). Official English version with full descriptions, examples, and guidelines. The online version integrates the following updates. The Base and each Update are available in print.
MARC 21 Concise Formats: Bibliographic Data section (2009 edition) (online and print). Concise version with examples and brief descriptions. Includes 1999 Base text with Updates 1-10 integrated.
MARC 21 Bibliographic Format Field List. Electronic list of fields, subfields, and values only. Includes all data elements in Official version and obsolete fields, indicators, subfields, and values.
MARC 21 Format for Authority Data (online and print). Official English version with full descriptions, examples, and guidelines. The online version integrates the following updates. The Base and each Update are available in print.
MARC 21 Concise Formats: Authority Data section (2009 edition) (online and print). Concise version with examples and brief descriptions. Includes 1999 Base text with Updates 1-10 integrated.
MARC 21 Authority Format Field List. Electronic list of fields, subfields, and values only. Includes all data elements in Official version and obsolete fields, indicators, subfields, and values.
MARC 21 Format for Holdings Data (online and print). Official version with full descriptions, examples, and guidelines. The online version integrates the following updates. The Base and each Update are available in print.
MARC 21 Concise Formats: Holdings Data section (2009 edition) (online and print). Concise version with examples and brief descriptions. Includes 1999 Base text with Updates 1-10 integrated.
MARC 21 Holdings Format Field List . Electronic list of fields, subfields, and values only. Includes all data elements in Official version and obsolete fields, indicators, subfields, and values.
MARC 21 Format for Classification Data (online and print). Official version with full descriptions, examples, and guidelines. The online version integrates the following updates. The Base and each Update are available in print.
MARC 21 Concise Format: Classification Data section (2009 edition) (online and print). Concise version with examples and brief descriptions. Includes 1999 Base text with Updates 1-10 integrated.
MARC 21 Classification Format Field List. Electronic list of fields, subfields, and values only. Includes all data elements in Official version and obsolete fields, indicators, subfields, and values.
MARC 21 Format for Community Information (online and print). Official version with full descriptions, examples, and guidelines. The online version integrates the following updates. The Base and each Update are available in print.
MARC 21 Concise Formats: Community Information Data section (2009 edition) (online and print). Concise version with examples and brief descriptions. Includes 1999 Base text with Updates 1-10 integrated.
MARC 21 Community Information Format Field List. Electronic list of fields, subfields, and values only. Includes all data elements in Official version and obsolete fields, indicators, subfields, and values.
MARC Code List for Countries (online and print). Listings by country name with cross references and by code.
MARC Code List for Languages (online and print). Listings by language name with cross references and by code.
MARC Code List for Geographic Areas (online and print). Listings by country name with cross references and by code.
MARC Code List for Organizations (online). Searchable Web-based database. Listings by organization name with cross references and by code. Supersedes and continues the 14th edition of the Symbols of American Libraries (1992).
MARC Code Lists for Relators, Sources, Description Conventions (online). Contains codes for the following six lists:
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