How to Understand a MARC Record

Below is the same cataloging record, but shown in MARC format. The information is not presented in the same order, but it is possible to identify all of the information shown in the record above. As you scan through this record, look for familiar pieces of information, such as the 020 field, containing the ISBN number. Find the name of the library that created this record in the 040 field (DLC stands for the Library of Congress).

001 1652498
005 19970502082209.6

008 970428s1997 nyu 000 0aeng

035 $9(DLC) 97014664

906 $a7$bcbc$corignew$d1$eocip$f19$gy-gencatlg

955 $apc05 to sa00 04-28-97; lg09 to lg03 04-30-97; lg03 to sl 04-30-97; lg08

05-01-97 to DDC

010 $a 97014664

020 $a0312169604

040 $aDLC$cDLC

043 $ap------

050 00$aDU23.5$b.P35 1997

082 00$a919.04$221

100 1 $aPalin, Michael.

245 10$aFull circle :$ba Pacific journey /$cwith Michael Palin.

260 $aNew York :$bSt. Martin's Press,$c1997.

263 $a9710

300 $ap. cm.

651 0$aPacific Area$xDescription and travel.

600 10$aPalin, Michael$xJourneys$yPacific Area.

More information is given in the MARC record than in the display usually seen by the library patron. In this record, in addition to the information that the patron would see, it is possible to find out who originally cataloged this item and see the suggested Library of Congress call number. In this display, it is also possible to see that many times the tags for the various fields are not entered in numerical order. Many computer-cataloging programs will let the cataloger enter into a template, or sample set up for the type of item being cataloged, such as a book or a video. These templates will list the usually required field tags in numerical order, but if the cataloger adds any additional tags, they may be added at the beginning or the end of the record, and may be out of order numerically.