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Date of next review: October 2024
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Inputting
Guidelines for LC Call Numbers
Guidelines for Access Points
Guidelines for Subject Access (FAST)
Guidelines for Added Entries
LTS Statistics Code for Minimal Level Records
Historical Background and Policy
Eligibility for MLC
Exclusions from MLC
Definitions
Interpreting the Minimal Level Standards
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InputtingAnchor A A
Any record input by LTS should be described according to RDA. If the record is based on AACR2 copy input as MLC (Encoding level not blank) by LC, it is acceptable to leave the record as AACR2. Modify the record in OCLC to bring it up to the LTS minimal level standard, as defined below.
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MARC 21 Definition | Tag | LTS Minimal Level Requirement |
Library of Congress Control No. | 010 | Mandatory if applicable. Enter any DLC label mounted on the cover. |
ISBN | 020 | Enter |a if it appears on the item (|z if you know it can’t possibly be valid, for example if it’s not 10 or 13 digits long) |
Cataloging Source | 040 | OCLC automatically supplies |a and |d ; |b eng and |e rda (if applicable) are mandatory |
LC Call No. | 050 | |
Authorized access point | 1xx | Mandatory if applicable (includes 100, 110, 111, 130) |
Preferred title | 240 | Enter a preferred title if known or readily inferred from the item; otherwise, omit. See Guidelines for Access Points, section 2, below |
Title area | 245 | Subfield |a is mandatory; |b and |c if applicable |
Varying form of title | 246 | Optional ; use judgment. Record parallel titles. |
Edition area | 250 | Mandatory if applicable |
Imprint | 264: 1: (RDA); 260 (usually AACR2) | Mandatory if applicable; |a, |b and |c should be present |
Physical description | 300 | Subfields |a and |c are mandatory; all other subfields are optional |
Content, Media, Carrier | 336, 337, 338 | Mandatory on RDA records, recommended for all records. Use OCLC macro "Add33x" or Essentials macro "Check 33X" |
Series | 490:0 | Transcribe series if present. Do not trace the series in an 830. |
FAST subject access | 6xx | Mandatory if applicable; see Guidelines for Subject Access (FAST) |
Added entries | 7xx | All added entries are optional; see Guidelines for Added Entries |
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Guidelines for LC Call NumbersAnchor B B
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In crowded places in the schedules, as may happen especially with literary authors, it may be better to keep an author together and a Cutter-Sanborn cutter, rather than splitting an author between the Cutter-Sanborn cutter and the LC cutter. Use discretion.
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Guidelines for Access Points Anchor C C
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If your book would not require LCSH headings, for example if it is a work of literature by an individual author, FAST should not be applied. However, LTS is no longer relying on keywords for subject access: even if your book's title says exactly what the book is about, in English, you still need to apply FAST headings.
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Guidelines for Added EntriesAnchor E E
You may assign added entries (7xx fields) if failure to do so would seriously impair access to the item. If necessary, assign up to two 7xx fields to cover the primary relationships associated with an item (e.g. an editor's name, the corporate sponsor of a symposium) or to bring out title access information judged to be important.
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LTS Statistics Code for Minimal Level RecordsAnchor F F
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It is important to remember that in using MLC, catalogers should seek a sound balance between the need for timely access to the material and the probable research value of the item. Catalogers should consult with selectors generally about the kinds of materials that are high priorities in order to have a clear sense of when MLC might be appropriate for a given item or class of items.
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Eligibility for MLCAnchor H H
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In general, if an item has reached LTS with Library of Congress (DLC … |c DLC) minimal-level cataloging, LTS catalogers are free to follow LC’s judgment and leave the cataloging at that level.
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Exclusions from MLCAnchor I I
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Substantial publications are those likely to be used for research purposes by a specialist and that do not meet the definition of either a major publication or a substantial publication of topical interest.
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Interpreting the Minimal Level StandardsAnchor K K
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Optional: A data element that does not need to be present in any record, but that may be present if local library policy calls for it or if the cataloger deems it essential for the item in hand.