MARC 21 Compact Format: Bibliographic Information

The MARC 21 format is widely used as a standard for the introduction, presentation, and exchange of bibliographic authority, classification, community information, and inventory data in a machine-readable format. These elements form a family that includes five coordinated and related sections: the MARC 21 format for authority data, another format for bibliographic data, a third format for classification data, a format for community information, and finally, a format for inventory data. Each of these MARC formats is printed separately to provide detailed and precise descriptions in each field. The compact MARC 21 formats in a journal allow for quick access to the definitions provided in the text of each of the MARC 21 formats. Additionally, MARC 21 provides a concise description of each field, including the position and place of each character in fixed-length data element fields, as well as indicators and defined tags in variable data fields. Descriptions of subfield codes and coded values are only provided when their names are not appropriately defined. The MARC 21 format for bibliographic data is designed to serve as a comprehensive bibliographic information cycle. This information pertains to various materials such as: manuscripts and printed texts, computer files, maps, continuing resources, visual materials, and mixed materials. Bibliographic data typically includes the following: information related to titles, names, subjects, notes, publication dates, and any other information regarding the physical description of the item