About MARC Records

A Machine‑Readable Cataloging record, or MARC record, contains electronic data that identify items held in your library. The data also classify the information the items contain. A MARC record includes the same information as a set of catalog cards.

Each MARC record is divided into sections called fields, which contain subfields. Each field is identified by a tag. Many fields are further identified by indicators. Tags identify information in fields, telling the computer what kind of data will follow. The information in fields includes such items as titles, ISSNs, notes, and subjects. Identifying tag numbers tell the computer what kind of information is recorded there and let the fields vary in length. (For example, you could have a one‑word title such as Roots or a longer title such as Custer Died for Your Sins in the same field category and the computer would still interpret the line correctly.) You can add, edit, and delete fields and subfields to customize each MARC record so that it will accurately represent items in your database.

This section explains these topics:

 


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