MARC 852 Location

MARC field 852 in the bibliographic and holdings formats contains the call numbers for the described item. (See Call numbers for information on formulating the call number portion of field 852.) It may also contain accession and copy-specific information, as well as private notes that contain the cataloger's initials, date of cataloging or revision, and other staff notes not suitable for public display. Private notes are hidden in the Details and Brief displays in Hamnet, but can be seen in the MARC view.

Commonly-used tags

Indicators

First indicator - Shelving scheme

0 - Library of Congress classification
8 - Other scheme

Second indicator - Shelving order

# - No information provided

Subfields

ǂb -  Sublocation or collection (R)
ǂd - Former shelving location (R)
ǂk - Call number prefix (R)
ǂh - Classification part (NR)
‡i - Item part (R)
‡m - Call number suffix (R)
‡j - Shelving control number (NR)
ǂx - Nonpublic note (R)
ǂz - Public note (R)
‡3 - Materials specified (NR)

Policy and formulation

ǂb Sublocation or collection

Used in Folger cataloging to identify the physical location of the collection. Note that ǂb contains a code, not the display name, and some display names have drifted far from their coded equivalents. For example, "DeckB-Mod" displays as "Deck B - Open Stacks". Depending on the location code, an abbreviation may need to be added to the call number at the end of subfield ǂi.

ǂb code Hamnet display add to end of ǂi add to spine label Notes
DeckA-Acq Acquisitions Department Acq. Dept. Acq. Dept.
DeckA-Con Conservation Lab Con. Lab Con. Lab
DeckA-Art Art Curator's office Art Cur. Art Cur. outdated - do not use
DeckA-Bks Book Curator's office Book Cur. Book Cur.
DeckA-Cat Cataloging Department Cat. Dept. Cat. Dept.
DeckA-Mss Manuscript Curator's office Mss. Cur. Mss. Cur.
DeckA-Ref Staff Reference Deck A Ref. Deck A Ref.
DeckB-Art Art Vault [none] [none]
DeckB-AV Audiovisual materials [none] [none]
DeckB-Mic Microforms [none] [none]
DeckB-Mod Open stacks [none] [none]
DeckB-Per Periodical stacks [none] [none]
DeckB-STC STC Vault [none] [none]
DeckC-Rare Vault [none] [none]
DeckC-Res Reserves Res. [none]?
EleRes Electronic resource [none] n/a
In-Proc In Process [none] n/a item is not yet circulating
RR-Balc Reading Room balcony [none] R.R. add "R.R." to t.p. verso and spine label only, not to holdings record
RR-Ref Reading Room reference collection R.R. Ref [none] Use white dot instead of "RR-Ref" on spine to indicate shelving location.

ǂd Former shelving location

As of 18 April 2014, old call numbers for reclassified material go here, including those preceded by a size designation. This subfield generates the Hamnet display label "Former call number." Use for any change, including call numbers that have been changed to add "copy 1."
ǂd Folio STC 9668 Bd.w. STC 9557 v.3

ǂk Call number prefix

This subfield is excluded from the left-anchored call number search. Folger cataloging (as of 18 April 2014) makes no general use of this subfield, though it is still found on many records. Move any size designations encountered in routine cataloging from ‡k to ‡m, following call number guidelines, but do not seek them out (this may be done systematically at some time in the future).

ǂh Classification part

The beginning of the call number.

  • For local call numbers, the entire string except the size designation goes in this subfield.
  • For LC call numbers, holds the part of the call number specifying the subject. If there is one cutter, everything preceding the cutter goes in the ǂh. If there are two cutters, everything preceding the first cutter goes in the ǂh. If there is a date and no cutter, everything preceding the date in the ǂh.
    • Full call number: DA615.O3 1720 Cage. Encoded: ǂh DA615
    • Full call number: PR9619.3.K55 C66 2008. Encoded: ǂh PR9619.3.K55

ǂi Item part

This subfield is used exclusively for LC call numbers.

  • If there is one cutter, the cutter and everything following goes in the ǂi.
  • If there are two cutters, the second cutter and everything following goes in the ǂi.
  • If there is a date and no cutter, the date and everything following goes in the ǂi.
    • Full call number: DA615.O3 1720 Cage. Encoded: ǂi .O3 1720 Cage
    • Full call number: PR9619.3.K55 C66 2008. Encoded: ǂi C66 2008

ǂm Call number suffix

Used in Folger call numbers to record location information not apparent from the main part of the call number or the location code. As of September 2015, this subfield is the main area to record size designations. (Subfield ‡k was previously used for this purpose, and is still present in many records. Move any size designations encountered in routine cataloging from ‡k to ‡m, following call number guidelines, but do not seek them out - this may be done systematically at some time in the future.)

For art on paper, framed works, objects, etc., the suffix is subject to change, and so should not be written on the item. For printed books, the shelving types "(folio)" and "(flat)" are part of the call number, and so should be written on the item and on flags and labels. For example:
Art folder: ǂm (size M)
Printed book: ǂm (folio)
Framed painting on Deck C: ǂm (aisle 102)
Object in art vault drawer: ǂm (B2a)

ǂj Shelving control number

Used in Folger records for the accession number

  • All vault materials added to the collection receive a 6-digit accession number. The call numbers of most printed rare materials are based on the accession number. Items acquired before this practice may have case numbers, the name of a person, or a date.
  • Case numbers are 4-digit numbers up to number. Record the number preceded by 'cs', no space. Example: ǂj cs1493
  • The books donated by Henry N. Paul were given 4-digit accession numbers in the 6xxx range. Record the 4-digit number only. Example ǂj 6811
  • Separate the units of date-based accession numbers with a period. Example: ǂj 12.30.44
  • 'F' or 'ac' usually precedes the six-digit accession number or accession date as written in the item. Record the 6-digit number only. Example ǂj 256644
  • If item in hand lacks a case or accession number, record ǂj No case or accession number present
  • In the case of framed art or other material where an accession number would be hidden, record ǂj No case or accession number visible

ǂx Nonpublic note

Private note not suitable for public display. Used to record cataloger's initials and date of work before 2015, when we switched to MARC 583. ǂx AJD 20120321 ǂx rev. SEH 20140307

ǂz Public note

Copy-specific information

  • Imperfect copies.
ǂz Imperfect: lacking half-title.
ǂz Imperfect: wanting all after page 22.
If the frontispiece is a plate, just call it a frontispiece.
ǂz Imperfect: missing frontispiece.
If the frontispiece is integral, call it a frontispiece and give the signature, e.g.,
ǂz Imperfect: lacking frontispiece (leaf A1) or ǂz Imperfect: wanting leaf A1 (frontispiece)
ǂz Wanting final blank leaf. 
Note when trimming or any other damage results in loss of text, even if the loss is minor and the text is still readable.
ǂz Small hole on leaf F2, with slight loss of text.
ǂz Wormed in places, cropped at foot of leaves, with slight loss of text.
ǂz Trimmed closely at fore-edges, with occasional loss of text.
If the item is so imperfect as to be only a fragment, include "fragment" in the call number, but still begin the note with "Imperfect".
ǂz Imperfect: fragment consisting of title leaf only.

* Binding and physical description : <pre>ǂz In leather binding (sheep?) with gold- and blind-tooling; gold spine title; edges speckled red. No paste-downs.

ǂz Bound in black cloth boards with leather spine label and gilt edges.
ǂz In laced-case vellum binding with manuscript spine title.
ǂz In modern half leather, with cloth boards.
ǂz Quarter cloth binding with marbled paper boards, probably bound by Richardot, Paris; spine: Coriolanus, 1824.
ǂz In plain paper wrappers.
ǂz Stitched in plain paper cover.
ǂz Disbound.
  • Provenance
ǂz Frontispiece signed in manuscript: "E. [Philbin or Phillips] [Powell?] fecit"; outer bottom edge torn away.
ǂz Halliwell-Phillips copy.
ǂz Bookplate: Shakespeare Library, Warwick Castle. Half leather binding with marbled paper boards and endpapers.
ǂz Stamp: Edward Dowden Library. Quarter buckram binding with marbled paper boards, signed: Richardot rel., Paris; spine: Coriolanus, 1808.
ǂz Armorial bookplate (motto: Prodesse quem conspici): John Somers, Lord Somers
ǂz Anonymous armorial bookplate (motto: Quod Deus vult fiet) of George Chetwynd; title-leaf with blind-stamp of Crendon Hall
ǂz Interleaved. Bibliographical notes by J.L. Gautier listing publications of Coriolanus, 'collated 1822'. Four playbills from 1817 productions at Covent-Garden bound in, dating: April 26; May 10; May 23; and June 23. Seal 'Johannes Ludovicus Gautier' stamped in gold on covers.
  • Inscriptions and annotations


0G6.2. Conjectural and indecipherable text

Indicate a conjectural interpolation by adding a question mark immediately after the interpolation, within the square brackets. Supply a question mark enclosed in square brackets for each indeterminable word or portion of word. Make a note to justify the interpolations, provide explanations, or offer tentative readings of indecipherable portions of text, if considered important.

amico[?]
(Comment: The symbol of contraction at the end of the word cannot be determined)
El[speth?] [?] McWhorter
(Comment: An autograph with some conjectured letters in the forename and an indecipherable middle initial, transcribed in a local note)

0G6.3. Lacunae in imperfect copies

If the description is based on an imperfect copy (see 0B2.2), use the mark of omission enclosed in square brackets ([...]) to show lacunae in the resource.

En Barcelo[na] : Por Sebastian Mateu[...]
Note: Description based on an imperfect copy; title page torn with partial loss of imprint

0G6.4. Blank spaces

If transcribing text containing a blank space intended to be completed in manuscript, as is common in forms and certain government documents, supply the word “blank” enclosed in square brackets. If the blank has been completed in the item being described, indicate this in a local note, if considered important.

A catalogue of books, to be sold on [blank] the [blank] day of February, 1755 ... 
Optional local note: Library's copy has date of auction supplied in manuscript: [Wednesday] the [26th] day of February, 1755


  • Recording immediate source of acquisition
    • Record if information is readily available
    • Routinely check the scanned acquisition rare orders
    • Use language “Acquired from...”
    • Give catalog / sale / lot number
    • Use full inverted date order (2014-05-12)
    • When purchased through an agent, record the name of the seller rather than the agent

External links