Has no indicators or subfield codes; the data elements are
positionally defined.
Fixed field that comprises the first 24 character positions
(00-23) of each bibliographic record and consists of data
elements that contain numbers or coded values that define the
parameters for the processing of the record.
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.
06 - Type of record
One-character alphabetic code used to define the
characteristics and components of the record.
Used to differentiate MARC records created for various
types of content and material and to determine the
appropriateness and validity of certain data elements in
the record.
Microforms, whether original or reproductions, are not
identified by a distinctive Type of record code. The type
of content characteristics described by the codes take
precedence over the microform characteristics of the
item. Computer files are identified by a distinctive Type
of record code only if they belong to certain categories
of electronic resources as specified below; in all other
cases the type of content characteristics described by
the other codes take precedence over the computer file
characteristics of the item.
Determination of the code for a multi-item bibliographic
entity (types of material are those specified by values a
through t below):
Items are multiple forms of material
- o (Kit) - entity is issued as a
single unit; no type of material predominates
- p (Mixed materials) - entity is a
made-up collection; no type of material predominates
- other codes - entity is a made-up
collection; one type of material predominates
Items are all one form of material
- any except o or p - all cases
a - Language material
Used for non-manuscript language material. Manuscript
language material uses code t.
Includes microforms and electronic resources that are
basically textual in nature, whether they are
reproductions from print or originally produced.
c - Notated music
Used for printed, microform, or electronic notated music.
d - Manuscript notated music
Used for manuscript notated music or a microform of
manuscript music.
e - Cartographic material
Used for non-manuscript cartographic material or a
microform of non-manuscript cartographic material.
Includes maps, atlases, globes, digital maps, and other
cartographic items.
f - Manuscript cartographic material
Used for manuscript cartographic material or a microform
of manuscript cartographic material.
g - Projected medium
Used for motion pictures, videorecordings (including
digital video), filmstrips, slide, transparencies or
material specifically designed for projection.
Material specifically designed for overhead projection is
also included in this type of record category.
i - Nonmusical sound recording
Used for a recording of nonmusical sounds (e.g., speech).
j - Musical sound recording
Used for a musical sound recording (e.g., phonodiscs,
compact discs, or cassette tapes.
k - Two-dimensional nonprojectable graphic
Used for two-dimensional nonprojectable graphics such as,
activity cards, charts, collages, computer graphics,
digital pictures, drawings, duplication masters, flash
cards, paintings, photo CDs, photomechanical
reproductions, photonegatives, photoprints, pictures,
postcards, posters, prints, spirit masters, study prints,
technical drawings, transparency masters, and
reproductions of any of these.
m - Computer file
Used for the following classes of electronic resources:
computer software (including programs, games, fonts),
numeric data, computer-oriented multimedia, online
systems or services. For these classes of materials, if
there is a significant aspect that causes it to fall into
another Leader/06 category, the code for that significant
aspect is used instead of code m (e.g., vector data that
is cartographic is not coded as numeric but as
cartographic). Other classes of electronic resources are
coded for their most significant aspect (e.g. language
material, graphic, cartographic material, sound, music,
moving image). In case of doubt or if the most
significant aspect cannot be determined, consider the
item a computer file.
o - Kit
Used for a mixture of various components issued as a unit
and intended primarily for instructional purposes where
no one item is the predominant component of the kit.
Examples are packages of assorted materials, such as a
set of school social studies curriculum material (books,
workbooks, guides, activities, etc.), or packages of
educational test materials (tests, answer sheets, scoring
guides, score charts, interpretative manuals, etc.).
p - Mixed materials
Used when there are significant materials in two or more
forms that are usually related by virtue of their having
been accumulated by or about a person or body. Includes
archival fonds and manuscript collections of mixed forms
of materials, such as text, photographs, and sound
recordings.
Intended primary purpose is other than for instructional
purposes (i.e., other than the purpose of those materials
coded as o (Kit)).
r - Three-dimensional artifact or naturally
occurring object
Includes man-made objects such as models, dioramas,
games, puzzles, simulations, sculptures and other
three-dimensional art works, exhibits, machines,
clothing, toys, and stitchery. Also includes naturally
occurring objects such as, microscope specimens (or
representations of them) and other specimens mounted for
viewing.
t - Manuscript language material
Used for manuscript language material or a microform of
manuscript language material. This category is applied to
items for language material in handwriting, typescript,
or computer printout including printed materials
completed by hand or by keyboard. At the time it is
created, this material is usually intended, either
implicitly or explicitly, to exist as a single instance.
Examples include marked or corrected galley and page
proofs, manuscript books, legal papers, and unpublished
theses and dissertations.
07 - Bibliographic level
One-character alphabetic code indicating the bibliographic
level of the record.
a - Monographic component part
Monographic bibliographic unit that is physically
attached to or contained in another unit such that the
retrieval of the component part is dependent on the
identification and location of the host item or
container. Contains fields that describe the component
part and data that identify the host, field 773 (Host
Item Entry).
Examples of monographic component parts with
corresponding host items include an article in a single
issue of a periodical, a chapter in a book, a band on a
phonodisc, and a map on a single sheet that contains
several maps.
b - Serial component part
Serial bibliographic unit that is physically attached to
or contained in another unit such that the retrieval of
the component part is dependent on the identification and
location of the host item or container. Contains fields
that describe the component part and data that identify
the host, field 773 (Host Item Entry).
Example of a serial component part with corresponding
host item is a regularly appearing column or feature in a
periodical.
c - Collection
Made-up multipart group of items that were not originally
published, distributed, or produced together. The record
describes units defined by common provenance or
administrative convenience for which the record is
intended as the most comprehensive in the system.
d - Subunit
Part of collection, especially an archival unit described
collectively elsewhere in the system. Contains fields
that describe the subunit and data that identify the host
item.
Subunits may be items, folders, boxes, archival series,
subgroups, or subcollections.
i - Integrating resource
Bibliographic resource that is added to or changed by
means of updates that do not remain discrete and are
integrated into the whole. Examples include updating
loose-leafs and updating Web sites.
Integrating resources may be finite or continuing.
m - Monograph/Item
Item either complete in one part (e.g., a single
monograph, a single map, a single manuscript, etc.) or
intended to be completed, in a finite number of separate
parts (e.g., a multivolume monograph, a sound recording
with multiple tracks, etc.).
s - Serial
Bibliographic item issued in successive parts bearing
numerical or chronological designations and intended to
be continued indefinitely. Includes periodicals;
newspapers; annuals (reports, yearbooks, etc.); the
journals, memoirs, proceedings, transactions, etc., of
societies; and numbered monographic series, etc.
17 - Encoding level
One-character alphanumeric code that indicates the fullness
of the bibliographic information and/or content designation
of the MARC record.
# - Full level
Most complete MARC record created from information
derived from an inspection of the physical item.
For serials, at least one issue of the serial is
inspected.
1 - Full level, material not examined
Next most complete MARC record after the full level
created from information derived from an extant
description of the item (e.g., a printed catalog card or
a description in an institutional guide) without
reinspection of the physical item. Used primarily in the
retrospective conversion of records when all of the
information on the extant description is transcribed.
Certain control field coding and other data (e.g., field
043 (Geographic Area Code)) are based only on explicit
information in the description.
2 - Less-than-full level, material not
examined
Less-than-full level record (i.e., a record that falls
between minimal level and full) created from an extant
description of the material (e.g., a printed catalog
card) without reinspection of the physical item. Used
primarily in the retrospective conversion of records when
all of the descriptive access points but only a specified
subset of other data elements are transcribed.
Authoritative headings may not be current.
3 - Abbreviated level
Brief record that does not meet minimal level cataloging
specifications. Headings in the records may reflect
established forms to the extent that such forms were
available at the time the record was created.
4 - Core level
Less-than-full but greater-than-minimal level cataloging
record that meets core record standards for completeness.
5 - Partial (preliminary) level
Preliminary cataloging level record that is not
considered final by the creating agency (e.g., the
headings may not reflect established forms; the record
may not meet national-level cataloging specifications).
7 - Minimal level
Record that meets the U.S. National Level Bibliographic
Record minimal level cataloging specifications and is
considered final by the creating agency. Headings have
been checked against an authority file and reflect
established forms to the extent that such forms were
available at the time the minimal level record was
created. The U.S. requirements for minimal-level records
can be found in
National
Level and Minimal Level Record Requirements
8 - Prepublication level
Prepublication level record. Includes records created in
cataloging in publication programs.
u - Unknown
Used by an agency receiving or sending data with a local
code in Leader/17 cannot adequately determine the
appropriate encoding level of the record. Code u thus
replaces the local code. Not used in newly input or
updated records.
For example, code u is used in Dublin Core originated
records.
z - Not applicable
Concept of encoding level does not apply to the record.
18 - Descriptive cataloging form
One-character alphanumeric code that indicates
characteristics of the descriptive data in the record
through reference to cataloging norms. Subfield $e
(Description conventions) of field 040 (Cataloging Source)
may contain additional information on the cataloging
conventions used.
Code particularly indicates whether the descriptive part of
the record exemplifies the rules of the International
Standard Bibliographic Description (ISBD), either
within or outside of the framework of the
Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, 2nd Edition
(AACR 2).
# - Non-ISBD
Descriptive portion of the record does not follow
International Standard Bibliographic Description
(ISBD) cataloging and punctuation provisions.
Examples of cataloging rules that do not follow ISBD
conventions are: Catalog Rules, Author and Title
Entries (1908); A.L.A. Catalog Rules, Author and
Title Entries (1941); A.L.A. Cataloging Rules
for Author and Title Entries (1949); and
Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, 1st Edition
(AACR 1) (except the revised chapters).
a - AACR 2
Descriptive portion of the record and the choice and form
of entry of the access points are formulated according to
either the second edition of the Anglo-American
Cataloguing Rules, 2nd Edition (AACR 2) or
cataloging manuals based on AACR 2, which follow ISBD in
their descriptive cataloging sections. The punctuation
practices of ISBD apply.
The interpretation of AACR 2 contained in the AACR
2-based manuals primarily affects details concerning
description; the access points generally remain
consistent with AACR 2. Access points follow AACR 2 as to
choice and form of entry.
i - ISBD
Descriptive portion of the record is formulated according
to the descriptive and punctuation provisions of ISBD.
Heading forms are not formulated according to AACR 2.
Includes: 1) records that use ISBD punctuation but whose
other conventions are unknown; 2) new records that are
basically formulated according to AACR 2 but contain
heading forms not used under those rules; 3) records
exemplifying ISBD punctuation practices applied to
pre-AACR 2 records; and 4) records done according to AACR
1 revised chapter 6, Separately Published Monographs.
u - Unknown
Institution receiving or sending data in Leader/18 cannot
adequately determine the appropriate descriptive
cataloging form used in the record. May be used in
records converted from another metadata format.
Dependencies
Field 008/18-34 Configuration
If Leader/06 =
a and Leader/07 = a, c, d, or m: Books
If Leader/06 = a and Leader/07 = b, i, or s: Continuing
Resources
If Leader/06 = t: Books
If Leader/06 = c, d, i, or j: Music
If Leader/06 = e, or f: Maps
If Leader/06 = g, k, o, or r: Visual Materials
If Leader/06 = m: Computer Files
If Leader/06 = p: Mixed Materials
06 - Type of record
b - Archival and manuscripts control [OBSOLETE, 1995]
h - Microform publications [OBSOLETE, 1972] [USMARC only]
n - Special instructional material [OBSOLETE, 1983]
07 - Bibliographic level
p - Pamphlet [OBSOLETE, 1988] [CAN/MARC only]
i - Integrating resource [NEW, 2001]
08 - Type of control [NEW, 1995]
17 - Encoding level
0 - Full level with item [OBSOLETE, 1997] [CAN/MARC
only]
6 - Minimal level [OBSOLETE, 1997] [CAN/MARC only]
18 - Descriptive cataloging form
p - Record is in partial ISBD form [OBSOLETE, 1987]
r - Record is in provisional form [OBSOLETE, 1981]
19 - Linked-record code [REDEFINED, 2007]
# - Related record not required [REDEFINED, 2007]
a - Set [NEW, 2007]
b - Part with independent title [NEW, 2007]
c - Part with dependent title [NEW, 2007]
r - Linked record requirement [OBSOLETE, 2007]
2 - Open entry for a collection [OBSOLETE, 1984] [CAN/MARC
only]