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082 Dewey Decimal Call Number

Changes to contents of MARC field 082
This is to announce the implementation at Library and Archives Canada of new instructions regarding the contents of MARC21 bibliographic subfields 082 $q and $2, effective July 17, 2023. These changes will allow us to better document the context in which a Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) number was assigned.

First off, the use of subfield 082 $q (assigning agency) will allow us to show that the DDC number was built by LAC staff, thus conferring it a level of authoritativeness that had so far eluded it. The sole content of the subfield will be the LAC library symbol, namely CaOONL.

As for subfield 082 $2 (edition information), it will from now on indicate not only the number of the DDC edition consulted, but also the language of the version that was used and the date when the number was assigned. As the following paragraphs will show you, there will be some subtle differences in coding depending on which version of DDC was consulted.


Coding instructions to follow when consulting WebDewey
For full classification numbers built with the help of the English language version of WebDewey, subfield 082 $2 shall include the digits 23 to denote the edition number, followed by the eng language code and a date formulated in the yyyymmdd format, each element being separated by a forward slash :

082

04$a641.5951$qCaOONL$223/eng/20230717

In contrast, any full number built with the help of the French version of WebDewey shall be followed by a subfield 082 $2 formulated as follows:

082

04$a641.5951$qCaOONL$223/fre/20230717

For abridged classification numbers built with the help of WebDewey in either language, subfield $2 shall include the edition number 15, followed by the eng language code (this in all cases as there is no 15th abridged edition of DDC in French) and a date formulated according to the yyyymmdd format, for example:

082

14$a629.13$qCaOONL$215/eng/20230717

Coding instructions to follow when consulting print editions of DDC
If, in exceptional circumstances, a full or abridged classification number is constructed through the use of a print edition of DDC, record in subfield $2 the edition number as well as the language and the year of publication or printing of the version used, for example:

082 04 $a612.1/1$qCaOONL$223/eng/2011

082 04 $a612.1/1$qCaOONL $223/fre/2015

082 14 $a612.1$qCaOONL $215/eng/2012

082 14 $a612.1$qCaOONL $214/fre/2005

Notes:

• Do not revise the formatting of field 082 in existing bibliographic records unless you are also modifying the classification number (such as when updating a CIP record).
• If an existing record includes a 082 tag that has a subfield $q generated by OCLC ($qOCoLC), ignore it and add a new 082 with our own code in $q.
• It is perfectly acceptable to establish an abridged DDC number from a version of the 23rd edition, i.e. by using the location of the segmentation to determine a number that we would normally be expected to build using the 15th abridged edition. In these circumstances, the proper thing to do is to nonetheless use edition number 15 in subfield $2.
• The CIP data block generator has been set to only print the first two characters of subfield $2. Therefore the new data elements in subfield $2 will not appear as part of the CIP data block.

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MARC21

MARC 21 Standards

Learn details about the MARC 21 standards such as format changes, specifications, code and term lists, field codes, RDA in MARC, as well as news and announcements.

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