3XX
300 Physical Description (R)
Includes extent of item, dimensions, other physical details and accompanying material.
Field ends with a full stop only if a 490 is present.
For zines & pamphlets follow the guidelines for books.
Transcribe the page numbers as they appear in the item. Significant sequences without page numbers can be written as unnumbered pages.
Measure the book height in cm and round up to the nearest whole cm. If the book is wider that it is tall include the height x width dimensions.
Use the general term volume to reflect these are continuing resources
If you have a complete set state the complete amount of journal volumes/issues
This relates to the Object type, Number of objects, Technique & materials, Dimensions and Colour Cataloging Framework elements. It intersects with the 007 & 655 fields.
It is used to record the extent, medium / format and size. The field format is:
extent & type of item :|bmedium ;|cdimensions in cm
|a Extent
Note the number of units & type of unit. This relates to Number of Objects & Object type. For 2D objects select from the following broad terms where possible:
drawings(s) painting(s) photographs(s) prints(s)
Narrower terms can be included in the 655 Genre field.
For containers (original to the material) use: album, sketchbook, portfolio, volume, scrapbook, box.
Where there are multiple images on a single support and the intention is to create a single bibliographic record for all the images, include this detail under extent.
For 3D objects use a suitable term. Where terms do not already exist in the Wellcome catalogue select a suitable term from the Getty Art & Architecture Thesaurus
When an object being described is considered a single object, but has several component parts that make up the whole, these should be enumerated within the physical description.
For born digital objects use the term ‘image file’
|b Other physical details
Record here additional characteristics relevant to the material, this can include: medium (technique) primary support (material on which image is executed) secondary support (mount) photographic form colour
Use standard terminology from Art & Architecture Thesaurus and Thesaurus for Graphic Materials
For photographs use the term photograph in |a, and identify the type of photograph in |b i.e. print, inkjet digital print, colour transparency, gelatin silver print, etc.
Record multiple techniques, with the primary one first. If they are too numerous or only partly identified use the terms ‘mixed media’ or ‘multiple processes’.
For Born Digital material record the file format and size. If important, record other technical information in brackets following file size. |c is not used for Born-digital.
Give an indication of colour characteristics if the item is neither in black or white, or shades of grey, if considered important. Distinguish between inherent colour and hand-applied colour. There may be cases where an additional note field is required to capture the full colour information.
|c Dimensions
Include plate mark, sheet, and mount where relevant.
Dimensions are rounded up to the nearest tenth of a cm.
2D objects: record height x width - can be dependent on whether the image has a natural orientation. Specify what was measured (plate mark, sheet etc.)
3D objects: record height x width x depth
Where technical knowledge is required, i.e. in relation to artistic techniques and materials, the cataloguer should only apply specificity if their expertise allows, if unsure use a more general term.
Cinefilm/film
Video/VHS/DVD/Digibeta
Sound
e-video
e-sound
Based on minimum viable record creation for inventory (2023-)
Extent = 1 sheet, 1 folded sheet, 1 bookmark, 3 newspaper cuttings mounted on 1 sheet, 1 box (folded), 2 stamps
The extent should demonstrate how the item is expected to look, not how it is stored e.g. a item which you would normally see folded would have the extent '1 folded sheet' even if it was stored unfolded.
For items with multiple sheets bound together - count the number of items and update the physical description.
Transcribe the page numbers as they appear in the item. Significant sequences without page numbers can be written as unnumbered pages.
Often a zine will be produced in an unconventional format, such as a folded leaflet. Try and describe this as literally as possible.
1 folded sheet is the simplest term. When using this, you will also need to express the folded and unfolded dimensions in this order: 1st unfolded (height x width), 2nd folded (height x width). This will also change your Carrier type (see below).
If there are any inserts accompanying the zine, add these in a |e. You should also add a 500 note describing any inserts or accompanying material.
Generally the physical description will reflect the approach used for books, but may include aspects from Visual & Material cataloguing, depending on the nature of the book.
306 Playing Time (NR)
The duration of a sound recording, videorecording, etc., or the duration of the performance of a music manuscript or printed music if the duration is on the item. Use six character positions in subfield |a. The six positions represent the duration of a work in hours, minutes, and seconds.
First and second positions are for the number of hours. The third and fourth positions are for the number of minutes. The fifth and sixth positions are for the number of seconds. Use the following guidelines:
Enter one exact hour as 60 minutes. Enter one exact minute as 60 seconds.
Enter any duration more than an hour in terms of hours, minutes, and seconds
Enter any duration more than one minute and less than one hour in terms of minutes and seconds
310 Current Publication Frequency (R)
321 Former Publication Frequency (R)
The former publication frequency of a continuing resource (serial or integrating resource). Use only when a current publication frequency is given in 310.
336 Content Type (R)
if images are a significant part of the book also add:
if you have a textual transcript attached to an e-bib, you can also determine the material in |3
2D graphic
3D object
Cinefilm/film/video/VHS/DVD/Digibeta + e-video
Sound + e-sound
CD-ROM
if you have a textual transcript (including if attached to an e-bib) you can also determine the material in |3
See full list of 3XX options on SharePoint or LoC guidelines
337 Media Type (R)
This records the type of device required to view, play, run a resource. Most items do not require a mediation device, for these the standard non-mediated 337 field is:
Historic materials such as stereographs are treated as unmediated.
Cinefilm/film
Video/VHS/DVD/Digibeta
Sound
e-video/e-sound/CD-ROM
See full list of 3XX options on SharePoint or LoC guidelines
338 Carrier Type (R)
For a single sheet:
2D graphic
3D object
Cinefilm/film
Video/VHS/Digibeta
Video/DVD
Sound/cassette
Sound/CD
e-video/e-sound/CD-ROM
For a single sheet:
See full list of 3XX options on SharePoint or LoC guidelines
340 Physical Medium
Not currently used, would be good but need clarification on future type of system before implementing
341 Accessibility Content
Not currently used, worth considering
344 Sound Characteristics (R)
Technical specifications relating to the encoding of sound or the absence of sound in a resource (type, medium, speed, configuration, playback, original capture etc).
Repeat the field for each element, but only include as much information as is known to you at point of cataloguing
Cinefilm/film reel/VHS videocassette
DVD/videodisc
Sound/audio disc/CD
Sound/audio cassette
Silent/no sound
345 Moving Image Characteristics (R)
Technical specifications relating to a moving image resource (projection speed, aspect ratios etc)
Repeat the field for each element, but only include as much information as is known to you at point of cataloguing
Aspect ratio
Projection speed
Presentation format (silent/no sound)
346 Video Characteristics (R)
Technical specifications relating to the encoding of video images in a resource (format)
Repeat the field for each element, but only include as much information as is known to you at point of cataloguing
Video/VHS
Video/U-matic
DVD (incl. Blu-Ray)
Questionable usage in Sierra:
347 Digital File Characteristics (R)
Technical specifications relating to digital encoding of text, image, audio, video, and other types of data in a tangible resource. This information could also be recorded in field 300 subfield |b (file type, file size, encoding format, resolution etc)
Repeat the field for each element, but only include as much information as is known to you at point of cataloguing
Sound/CD
Video/DVD/e-video
e-sound
If there is an accompanying transcript:
Digital image/JPEG
CD-ROM
362 Dates of Publication / Sequential Designation (R)
Detail the dates and issue/volume numbers of serials and journals.
Indicators
Use first indicator = 1 for formatted notes (i.e. just issue no./date transcribed from the item) and first indicator = 2 if writing an unformatted note.
Construction
If the serial is still being published, keep the date open using a hyphen.
If the serial is complete, list the full date span.
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