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DB / Metadata Management Program (MMP): Using Medical Subject Headings (MeSH®) in Cataloging


MARC Coding

  • Publication characteristics are recorded in the MARC 655 field with the first indicator blank, and second indicator of 2

  • When adding a publication characteristic make sure that the nature of contents or nature of the entire work byte(s) of the 008 are coded as appropriate
    • Example: If you assign a 655 _2 of Handbooks, then also code the 008 byte “Nature of contents” as “f”

  • NLM catalogers may occasionally use publication characteristics from a local list
    • These are coded 655 with a first indicator of blank, and second indicator of 7 and a $2 with the source of the term

      655 _7 $a Reports (Official) $2 local


Last Reviewed: July 21, 2017