Fixed Field (editing)

The Fixed Field in a bibliographic record may be edited when cataloging a title in order reflect the information in other fields in the record.

Fixed field- nonAACR2

It is acceptable to leave information in the fixed field of a bibliographic record in the “old” form on non-AACR2 cataloging. Two examples of this that have come through lately are the uuuu in the dates and “c” in the date type.

AACR2 cataloging rules have replaced the uuuu in dates with 9999 (indicating unknown date of publication) and date type “c” is now date type “t”.

Fixed field (dates)

The dates for the fixed field should be entered in the following order:

For REPRINTS (r) date status: reproduction date, original date
For PUBLICATION (t) date status: publication date, copyright date

Fixed field- dates unknown

If there is no date on the item and the dates can’t be assigned using any available information, then enter the dates in the fixed field as:  9999,9999

If there is no date on the item and the dates can be assigned from other sources, then enter the information as categorized on p.41, rule 1.4F7 in AACR2, 1998 Revision.

Fixed field codes for DtSt

The most commonly used date status codes are:

• m    Multiple dates- used for a set published over a number of years. Order of dates: date of the 1st volume published, date of the last volume published. (The volumes could be published out of order.)
• q    Date estimated based on evidence, but date questionable, call number dates for this DtSt should be followed by a lowercase z if representing a span of a decade or more. Use the earliest date mentioned in the call number if choosing  between two dates. (See table in 260’s section)
• r    Reprint- If the original date for the reprint is unknown, then enter 4 blank spaces as the 2nd date in the fixed field.
• s    Single date (i.e. 1995 or c1995) – used for a set or title published within one calendar year. The set would not need a second date as it would if published over a span of years.
• t    Publication and copyright date (i.e. 1995,                 c1994)

An item that is published in a different language than the original issue constitutes a new edition of that title. Disregard all copyright dates for the original language edition when cataloging. Use only the dates applicable to the current publication of the title.
   

Fixed field- Desc

There are three descriptive cataloging forms that most commonly appear on our bibliographic records. Please follow these guidelines when editing:

• If there is a “Desc: a” in the fixed field of the record, this is AACR2 cataloging. We are free to edit the information and format (punctuation, placement of information, etc.) of these records.
• If there is a “Desc: __” or a “Desc: i”, these are older forms of cataloging. We should edit the information for accuracy, but should not change the format (punctuation, placement of information) of these records.

Fixed field- Enc Lvl

There are a number of encoding levels that are acceptable when selecting bibliographic records. We should not use a J level record if there is a better record available. The Catalog Librarian will review all J level records and either catalog them as a new OCLC record or return them to the unit for standard cataloging.

The definition of this level is:

J       Deleted record. The record has been deleted by the institution which created it.