CatBlog

17 - Encoding level
Indicates the fullness of the bibliographic information and/or content designation of the MARC record.

• # - Full level
  The most complete MARC level created from information derived from an inspection of the physical item.

• 1 - Full level, material not examined
  The information used in creating the record is derived from an extant description of the item without reinspection of the physical item. This code is 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 elements are based only on explicit information in the description.

• 2 - Less-than-full level, material not examined
  The information used in creating the record is derived from an extant description of the item without reinspection of the physical item. This code is 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
  Indicates a brief record that does not meet the National Level Bibliographic Record 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

• 5 - Partial (preliminary) level
  A 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
  A record that meets the national-level bibliographic record minimal-level cataloging specifications and is considered final by the creating agency. Headings reflect established forms. The U.S. requirements for minimal-level records can be found in National Level and Minimal Level Record Requirements (www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/nlr/)

• 8 - Prepublication level
  Indicates a prepublication level record. This includes records create in cataloging in publication programs.

• u - Unknown
  Used by an agency receiving or sending data to replace a local code when the appropriate MARC encoding level code cannot be determined. Code u is not used in newly input or updated records.

• z - Not applicable
  The encoding level concept does not apply to the record.