Fixed-Length Fields
LANG: Primary Language. Can also be “multilingual” if presented in 2 or more languages.
SKIP: Skip digit helps to index titles on the first significant word. Titles with leading articles such as “The”, “a” or “an” or their foreign language equivalents, will have this number set to skip over the appropriate number of leading characters.
LOCATION: Owning libraries. Will show either a single location, or “multi” if owned by more than one library. May show “none” if a title is still pre-ordered and the item has not been received yet.
CAT DATE: The date the MHLS cataloging department overlayed the brief record with a more complete record.
BIB LVL: Will show “Monograph” for most titles, or “Serial” for Magazines, Journals, Newspapers, Travel Guides, Directories, and Study Guides.
MAT TYPE: The format of the material.
SUPPRESS: If supression code is filled in, this bibliographic record will not display in the public-facing online catalog.
COUNTRY: Place of publication
Variable length fields
LCCN: Library of Congress Catalog Number
STANDARD #: ISBN, ISSN, UPC or other identifier
MISC 082: Dewey Decimal number
AUTHOR: Main contributor of a work. Uses the controlled vocabulary of the Library of Congress Name Authority file.
TITLE: Main title of a work
ADD TITLE: Alternate title, can be repeated as necessary to include possible variations of the title.
EDITION: As of December 2023, all new books, large prints, and graphic novels should include type of binding: hardcover, trade paperback, mass market paperback, library binding, board book, etc. This field may also include other edition information if applicable, such as: Revised edition, Third edition, Media tie-in edition, etc.
PUBLISHER: Includes place of publication, name of publisher, and date of publication.
DESCRIPTION: Number of pages, discs, or other contents.
SUBJECT: Uses the controlled vocabulary of the Library of Congress Subject heading list, and additionally may include
ADD AUTHOR: Any additional contributors of a work. Can be repeated for as many contributors as necessary. Uses the controlled vocabulary of the Library of Congress Name Authority file.
CONTINUES: For Serials that have had a title change. This field will show the earlier title it had been published under.
CONT’D BY: For serials that are no longer being published under the title in the record. This field shows what the title was changed to, where newer editions of this Serial publication can be found.