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Leader

Find the field definition and scope, indicators, subfield codes, and guidelines for applying content designations for the MARC Leader field.

Indicators and Subfield Codes

This field has no indicators or subfield codes; the data elements are positionally defined.

Character Positions

05    Record status

c           Corrected or revised

n           New

06    Type of record

u           Unknown

v           Multipart item holdings

x           Single-part item holdings

y           Serial item holdings

17    Encoding level

2           Holdings level 2

3           Holdings level 3

4           Holdings level 4

5           Holdings level 4 with piece designation

m          Mixed level

u           Unknown

z            Other level

18    Item information in record

i             Item information

n            No item information

Field definition and scope

The Leader is the first field of a separate local holdings record. It is fixed in length at 24 character positions (00-23). The Leader consists of data elements that contain numbers or coded values that define the parameters for the processing of the record in an automated system.

Character positions 20-23 comprise the Entry map for the Directory. They contain four one-character numbers that specify the structure of the entries in the Directory. More detailed information about the structure of the Leader is contained in MARC 21 Specifications for Record Structure, Character Sets, and Exchange Media.

Most Leader data elements are system-generated. Only leader character positions that are visible in OCLC systems are described here.

Guidelines for applying content designations

Character positions

05    Record status

The Record status character position contains a one-character alphabetic code that indicates the relationship of the record to a file for file maintenance purposes. This value is system-supplied.

c - Corrected or revised

Code c indicates that an addition or change has been made to the record.

n - New

Code n indicates that the record is a newly input record.

06    Type of record

The Type of record character position contains a one-character alphabetic code that indicates the type of item covered by the holdings statement.

u - Unknown

Code u indicates that the record is a holdings record, but that its type of holdings is unspecified.

v - Multipart item holdings

Code v indicates that the holdings statement is for a nonserial bibliographic item that is composed of more than one physical part but is complete in a finite number of separate physical parts, such as a multivolume monograph, a kit, a music score or parts, or a monograph with a multipart supplement.

x - Single-part item holdings

Code x indicates that the holdings statement is for a bibliographic item that is complete in a single physical part, for example, a one-volume book or a single-part component of a kit.

y - Serial item holdings

Code y indicates that the holdings statement is for a serial bibliographic item (that is, one issued in successive parts and intended to be continued indefinitely).

17    Encoding level

The Encoding level character position contains a one-character code that indicates the level of specificity of the holdings statement. Codes 1, 2, 3, and 4 reflect the requirements of Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4 of Holdings Statements for Bibliographic Items (ANSI/NISO Z39.71) (formerly Serial Holdings Statements (ANSI Z39.44) and Holdings Statements for Non-Serial Items (ANSI/NISO Z39.57)) and codes 1, 2, and 3 reflect the requirements of Levels 1, 2, and 3 of Holdings Statements-summary level (ISO 10324).

When a library attaches their OCLC institution symbol to a WorldCat bibliographic record, the holdings are at Z39.71 level 1. OCLC local holdings records are recorded at Z39.71 level 2 or above. 

At a minimum, all OCLC local holdings records attached to a WorldCat bibliographic record contain a leader, a 007 field, a 008 field, and an 852 field.

2 - Holdings level 2

Code 2 indicates that the holdings record is formulated according to level 2 of the applicable standard.

3 - Holdings level 3

Code 3 indicates that the holdings record is formulated according to level 3 of the applicable standard. Minimally, in addition to the leader, 007, 008, and 852 fields, it includes summary holdings information, that is, holdings at the first level of enumeration and chronology, in one or more of the following holdings data fields:

853    Captions and Pattern-Basic Bibliographic Unit

863    Enumeration and Chronology-Basic Bibliographic Unit

866    Textual Holdings-Basic Bibliographic Unit

854    Captions and Pattern-Supplementary Material

864    Enumeration and Chronology-Supplementary Material

867    Textual Holdings-Supplementary Material

855    Captions and Pattern-Indexes

865    Enumeration and Chronology-Indexes

868    Textual Holdings-Indexes

4 - Holdings level 4

Code 4 indicates that the holdings record is formulated according to level 4 of the applicable standard. Minimally, in addition to the leader, 007, 008, and 852 fields, it includes detailed holdings information, that is, the first and all subsequent levels of enumeration and chronology in either itemized or compressed form or a combination of the two, in one or more of the 853-855 Captions and Pattern, 863-865 Enumeration and Chronology, and 866-868 Textual Holdings fields.

853   0   0   ‡8 1 ‡a no. ‡i (year) ‡j (month)

863   4   0   ‡8 1.1. ‡a 180-226 ‡i 1976-1981

863   4   4   ‡8 1.2 ‡a 222

863   4   0   ‡8 1.3 ‡a 230 ‡i 1982 ‡j April

863   4   0   ‡8 1.4 ‡a 235 ‡i 1982 ‡Dec.

863   4   0   ‡8 1.5 ‡a 237 ‡i 1983 ‡j Mar.

863   4   0   ‡8 1.6 ‡a 239-242 ‡i 1983 ‡j June-Oct.
[Multiple 863 fields contain detailed holdings statements for an incomplete published run of the item.]

5 - Holdings level 4 with piece designation

Code 5 indicates that, in addition to the requirements for Level 4, the holdings record includes information that identifies a single physical part in subfield ‡p (Piece designation) in an 852 (Location) field, in subfield ‡p (Piece designation) in an 863-865 Enumeration and Chronology field or in subfield ‡p (Piece designation) in an 876-878 Item Information field, or in subfield ‡a (Textual holdings) in an 866-868 Textual Holdings field.

m - Mixed level

Code m indicates that the level of the holdings statement is mixed, for example, when the levels for retrospective and current holdings differ. The applicable 863-865 Enumeration and Chronology and 866-868 Textual Holdings fields contain a value in the first indicator position (Field encoding level) that indicates the level of each holdings data field.

u - Unknown

Code u indicates that the level of specificity is unknown.

z - Other level

Code z indicates that the holdings statement does not meet any of the levels of specificity defined by the other codes.

18    Item information in record

The Item information in record character position contains a one character code that indicates whether item information is in the record, contained in one or more of the 876-878 (Item Information) fields.

i - Item information

Code i indicates that item information is in the record, contained in fields 876-878.

n - No item information

Code n indicates that there is no information in the record.