Using 024 Fields in Cataloging
Written by David Procházka
DRAFT, 18 October 2005
Introduction
As youve probably noticed, more and more bib records in OCLC include a 024 field. This field often carries the UPC code that appears on the backs of books and other media. You may not know that this field is searchable, in OCLC and in III*. For many reasons, the barcode is becoming more of an industry standard. By 2007, even ISBNs will all be 13 digits long.
To reflect this change in standards, we are introducing a few guidelines so that we will be well situated as these numbers evolve.
Guidelines
You will frequently encounter two different kinds of barcodes: those with 12 digits and those with 13 digits. Those with 12 digits are UPC codes, and are tagged as 024 1 . Those with 13 digits are the new 13-digit ISBNs, and are tagged as 024 3 . Examples:
024 1 733640499834
024 31 9781559499835
A few items have both barcodes, but most Ive seen have only one or the other. The 1st indicator is very important, as it is used in validating the rest of the field. The 2nd indicator may be blank, 0, or 1. Any value in this spot is acceptable and will not affect retrieval in OCLC or in III.
- When cataloging a title by editing an existing record, see if the record already contains a 024 field. If it does, glance at a couple of the numbers to verify that it is correct. You dont need to worry about the 1st indicator value; any errors will show up when you validate your record.
- Ive seen numerous cases where these numbers are entered in 028 fields or in 020 fields as subfield z. Neither of these is correct, and neither will index properly. In either case, change the field tag to 024 and set the 1st indicator correctly.
- When cataloging, if your item has one of these barcodes but its not in the bibliographic record, add it by scanning the barcode into a new 024 field. Be sure to select the correct 1st indicator.
*Searching
To search using the barcode in OCLC, there are two choices:
- In a Keyword/Numeric Search box, scan the publishers barcode into the left window, and select "Standard Number (sn:)" from the right window;
- In the box for a Command Line Search, enter "SN:" followed by the publishers barcode.
There are also two options for searching by using the barcode in III, based on which interface youre using:
- In Millennium, select "UOther Number" and then scan the barcode into the search window;
- In INNOPAC, at the the search prompt type "u" and then scan in the barcode