FAQ
NLM LocatorPlus -- Authority Records -- Older Forms of Headings in Authority Records

Question: Why do older forms of headings appear in authority records in LocatorPlus?

Answer:

- Not all authority records in LocatorPlus conform to the rules codified in the Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules (AACR) and its most recent edition.
- NLM currently applies the rules embodied in the Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, 2^nd edition, 2002 revision in establishing name and title headings used in LocatorPlus bibliographic records.
- NLM commonly reexamines older authority records for conformance to AACR only as these headings are used again in the current cataloging process.
- To determine whether a heading is established according to current AACR rules, examine the record by displaying the MARC View tab.
- If the coding of the MARC 21 field 008, byte 10 is "a", then the record was created according to earlier rules; if the coding of the MARC 21 field 008, byte 10 is "c", then the record conforms to AACR.
- In the example below for "Maryland. University. Institute of Acarology", the coding of MARC 21 field 008, byte 10 is "a" and the form of the heading reflects earlier cataloging rules.

- In the next example for the "University of Maryland", the MARC 21 field 008, byte 10 is coded "c", showing that the record is established according to AACR.

- Consult the most recent edition of the MARC 21 Format for Authority Data, published by the Library of Congress, for other valid codes used in the MARC 21 field 008, byte 10 at http://lcweb.loc.gov/marc/authority/ecadlist.html.

Related Questions:: Authority Records Questions; LocatorPlus Questions; Cataloging and Bibliographic Questions

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Last updated: 06 May 2004
First published: 01 January 1999
Metadata| Permanence level: Permanence Not Guaranteed

FAQNLM LocatorPlus -- Authority Records -- Older Forms of Headings in Authority Records