Cataloging Department
     University Libraries @ The University of Akron

Cataloging Music and Musical Sound Recordings

Written by David Procházka

Contents

Overview

In general, music and musical sound recordings are cataloged following AACR2, LCRIs, Music Cataloging Decisions, and OCLC-MARC. Standard LC subject headings are assigned, and music is classed using LC's M schedule. The following description attempts to point out local practices that vary from national standards and addresses copy and original cataloging. However, it applies only to published works. Separate guidelines are under development for unpublished music materials.

OCLC-MARC Field-by-field discussion of practices

Fixed Fields
AccM: Accompanying Material code in original cataloging; for copy cataloging, just be sure that some value is present, if there accompanying material that will be handled as a separate item
Audn: Audience music is coded only as blank or with a "j" for juvenile. Other audience codes are not used.
Comp: Form of Composition ALWAYS make sure this is correct. As appropriate, code as "mu" and put multiple values in field 047
Ctry: Country of Publication code for original cataloging; no need to verify in copy cataloging
Desc: Descriptive Cataloging Form all current cataloging uses code "a" for cataloging based on AACR2
DtSt: Type of Date/Pub Status follow the precedence list given in OCLC's Bibliographic Formats and Standards (http://www.oclc.org/bibformats/en/fixedfield/dtst.shtm).

Common values include:
p - Distribution/production date (for sound recordings)
t - Publication and copyright date
s - Single date
r - Reprint/Original date (for printed music)
FMus: Format of Music this can be a very useful field; add/verify in all cataloging
Lang: Language use language code for sung words only. If there is accompanying text, lyrics, etc., this can be coded in tag 041
Type: Type of Record c - use for printed music
j - use for musical sound recordings
Standard Fields
007 Sound recordings: The following subfields are the most commonly used values; others are also available

Subfield Description Local Practice/Values
‡a Category of material s Sound recording
‡b Specific material designation d Sound disc. Analog discs & compact digital discs
s Sound cassette
t Sound-tape reel
‡c Original versus reproduction aspect Obsolete. Do not use.
‡d Speed Analog discs
b 33-1/3 rpm
c 45 rpm
d 78 rpm

Compact digital discs
f 1.4 m. per sec.

Tapes (ips = inches per second)
i 1-7/8 ips. Standard cassettes
o 7-1/2 ips. Reel-to-reel, nonprofessional, studio, etc.
p 15 ips. Reel-to-reel, studio, etc.
‡e Configuration of playback channels (Local practice is to correlate this to information stated in 300 field)

m Monaural
s Stereophonic
u Unknown
‡f Groove width/groove pitch (The width of the groove from wall-to-wall) m Microgroove/fine (Discs issued at 16, 33-1/3 and 45 rpm are usually microgroove)
n Not applicable. Item does not contain grooves (e.g., tapes and compact digital discs).
‡g Dimensions Reels or discs
b 5 in.
c 7 in.
e 12 in.

Compact digital discs
g 4-3/4 in. (12 cm.)

Cassettes
j 3-7/8 × 2-1/2 in. cassette
‡h Tape width l 1/8 in. Most cassettes.
n Not applicable. Not a tape and does not include a tape.
o 1/2 in. Studio tapes and some 8 track cartridges.
‡i Tape configuration a Full (1) track
b Half (2) track
c Quarter (4) track. Standard cassettes, unless otherwise noted.
n Not applicable. Not a tape and does not include a tape.
‡j Kind of disc, cylinder or tape Local practice is to delete from all but LC cataloging, and not to code for commercial recordings

Archival use only.
‡k Kind of material Compact digital discs
m Plastic with metal

Analog discs and tapes
p Plastic
‡l Kind of cutting Local practice is same as subfield j

Archival use only.
‡m Special playback characteristics (Local practice is to use "n" rather than "blank")

c Dolby-B encoded, standard Dolby
e Digital recording. Item requires digital playback equipment (e.g. compact digital discs).
n Not applicable
u Unknown
‡n Capture and storage techniques d Digital storage. Captured using electrical equipment and stored using digital techniques. Do not confuse with digital playback techniques.
e Analog electrical storage. Captured on electrical equipment and stored on magnetic surface (e.g., a coated tape). Includes most recordings from the late 1940s until the early 1980s.
u Unknown
024 Other Standard Identifier UPC codes (10 indicators): input in original cataloging; neither add, delete, nor verify in copy cataloging.

ISMN values (2_ indicators): input/verify for all cataloging
028 Publisher Number Input/verify for all cataloging. "2" is our standard 2nd indicator;' "0" is also used when number appears in a 5xx note.
033 Date/Time and Place of an Event Input in original cataloging; neither add, delete, nor verify in copy cataloging
047 Form of Musical Composition Code Add/verify for all cataloging
048 Number of Musical Instruments or Voices Code Add/verify for all cataloging
050 Library of Congress Call Number Use only for call numbers created by LC; for LC type numbers created locally, use field 090.
Leave 050 in cataloging if using 090 or 099 field.
086 Government Document Classification Number Delete from all cataloging
092 Locally Assigned Dewey Call Number Delete from all cataloging
099 Local Free-Text Call Number Currently used for all media cataloging. See table of available terminology
260 Publication, Distribution, Etc.  
300 Physical Description  
530 Additional Physical Form Available  
590 Local Notes  
7xx Additional Access 7xx _2
7xx __ |4
710
793 Local Uniform Title See 793 policies