Implementing the repeatability of the MARC 21 260 field
The place of publication and the publisher can change over time for multipart monographs, serials, and integrating resources. How that information has been handled in bibliographic records until now depended on the mode of issuance:
- multipart monographs and serials: If the new information was important, it was given in a 500 field;
- integrating resources: The 260 field was revised to reflect the new information; the old information was given in a 500 field if important.
The MARC 21 format was changed to make the 260 field repeatable so that the new information, especially for serials, is more prominent in the records for the benefit of acquisitions staff, reference staff, and readers who have current citations. 500 fields are not always available in OPAC displays, purchase orders, etc.
LC and PCC participants postponed implementation of the repeatable 260 field because OCLC had not implemented that change to the MARC 21 bibliographic format. OCLC has now announced an August 16 implementation date. LC and PCC will implement on September 1, 2009.
Attached are the guidelines developed by LC and PCC. The guidelines will also be posted on the Policy and Standards Division public Web site (http://www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/260field.html) by early August.
For your information: At LC, the guidelines will apply only to actions to be taken when a change happens in the future; the result could be bibliographic records with a mixture of two or more 260 fields and a 500 field for earlier changes. Generally, LC catalogers will not convert 500 fields to additional 260 fields in records being used in copy cataloging or in existing records.
Judy Kuhagen
Policy and Standards Division
Library of Congress
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