# Notes

Notes in a record are incredibly useful to record further details about early printed books, or information about what makes a copy unique. Each metadata element has specific notes related to it, as well as the miscellaneous notes listed below. As well as the notes listed below, please see each metadata elements for other related notes. 

The [**500**](https://docs.wellcomecollection.org/library-cataloguing/9yMHsFGBXS9DDRGtdmSE/bibliographic-record/5xx#id-500-general-note-r) field is a free text field which can be used to record any further information about an early printed book that is interesting or might be useful to researchers. Listed below are some examples of notes that can be added to records, but this is not an exhaustive list.

For examples of notes, see the relevant field information in the Bibliographic record guidelines, hyperlinked below.

## [Signatures](https://docs.wellcomecollection.org/library-cataloguing/9yMHsFGBXS9DDRGtdmSE/glossary#signatures)

See [Signatures](https://docs.wellcomecollection.org/library-cataloguing/9yMHsFGBXS9DDRGtdmSE/physical-description#signatures) for more information. If recording signatures, record in a [**500**](https://docs.wellcomecollection.org/library-cataloguing/9yMHsFGBXS9DDRGtdmSE/bibliographic-record/5xx#id-500-general-note-r) field.

## [Cancels](https://docs.wellcomecollection.org/library-cataloguing/9yMHsFGBXS9DDRGtdmSE/glossary#cancel-cancellation)

Record information about cancels in a [**500**](https://docs.wellcomecollection.org/library-cataloguing/9yMHsFGBXS9DDRGtdmSE/bibliographic-record/5xx#id-500-general-note-r) field.

## Bibliography

Record if the item contains a bibliography in a [**504**](https://docs.wellcomecollection.org/library-cataloguing/9yMHsFGBXS9DDRGtdmSE/bibliographic-record/5xx#id-504-bibliography-etc.-note-r) field.

## Contents

Record an item's contents (transcribed from a contents page) in a [**505**](https://docs.wellcomecollection.org/library-cataloguing/9yMHsFGBXS9DDRGtdmSE/bibliographic-record/5xx#id-505-formatted-contents-note-r) field.

## Reference note

Cite any works that describe the item in a [**510**](https://docs.wellcomecollection.org/library-cataloguing/9yMHsFGBXS9DDRGtdmSE/bibliographic-record/5xx#id-510-citation-references-note-r) field (e.g. bibliographies and catalogues).

Where applicable, follow the [RBMS standard citation forms](https://rbms.info/scf/).

{% hint style="success" %}
Check the [English Short-Title Catalogue (ESTC)](https://www.cerl.org/services/estc) to see if our edition is in there. Add the ESTC number to a 510 (see Library guidelines for example)
{% endhint %}

## Summary

Record a summary of the item's contents (either transcribed from the item in quote marks, or summarised by the cataloguer) in a [**520**](https://docs.wellcomecollection.org/library-cataloguing/9yMHsFGBXS9DDRGtdmSE/bibliographic-record/5xx#id-520-summary-etc.-r) field.

## Language

If an item is in more than one language, or is a translation, record this information in an [**041**](https://docs.wellcomecollection.org/library-cataloguing/9yMHsFGBXS9DDRGtdmSE/bibliographic-record/0xx#id-041-language-code-r) and a [**546**](https://docs.wellcomecollection.org/library-cataloguing/9yMHsFGBXS9DDRGtdmSE/bibliographic-record/5xx#id-546-language-note-r).