CCS CORE REQUIREMENTS
for Books (print monographs)


These core requirements apply to new incoming copy cataloging. This document is a brief summary; it lists only those elements that (a) are mandatory, or, (b) warrant special notice if they are applicable. It is not to be inferred that because an element is excluded it is not required. Some fixed fields, for example, are mandatory or system-supplied but may or may not be mentioned below. For detailed explanation and local rules, consult the CCS Cataloging Manual.

Every controlled heading entering the database should be checked against the CCS indexes to be sure that its form of entry is used consistently to represent the same entity or concept or that it is unique and not in conflict with existing headings when it is entering the database for the first time. Controlled headings should contain cross-references whenever the cataloger deems them to be necessary.
M = Mandatory; MA = Mandatory if applicable

FIXED FIELDS:
Lang Language M
CCS requires that the language code for a foreign language be input, and contrary to national standards, if the printed material is bilingual, the code for the foreign language is input. Lang maps to local LANGUAGE field.
Dates Date 1 and Date 2 M
Date(s) must match date(s) given in 260 ‡c field. Date 1 maps to local DATE field.

CONTROL FIELDS:
010: Library of Congress Control Number (LCCN) MA
020: International Standard Book Number (ISBN)
‡a ISBN MA
Subfield ‡a is no longer a repeatable subfield. For bibliographic records with more than one ISBN, create a separate 020 tag for each ISBN. Qualify the ISBN, e.g. (lib. bdg.), (pbk.), (set), (v. 2) when applicable.
‡c Price M
The U.S. price must be entered here for the local system. It may be exactly as found, rounded to the next dollar, or estimated when unknown, but should not be $25.00 (the system-default cost when none is present). Do not use the library's discounted price or a price that reflects a local library's processing fee. Such local variations are accommodated in the item cost field
049: Local Cataloging Agency M
To identify the agency responsible for the bibliographic record in the local database, the library that inputs, edits, or imports the record from another source must enter its 4-letter OCLC holding symbol.

VARIABLE FIELDS:
1XX: Main Entry MA
240: Uniform Title MA
Supply a uniform title in accordance with AACR2R Chapter 25 and the LC Rule Interpretations for same.
245: Transcription of Title
‡a Title Proper M
‡b Other Title MA
Title, subtitle, parallel title, and other title information must be transcribed accurately and in accordance with all the provisions of AACR2 Rules 1.1B-1.1E and related LC Rule Interpretations. For reasons of staff retrieval in the local system, the space at the beginning of an ellipsis, [space]...[space] must be removed. Example: "Europe on ... a day" becomes "Europe on... a day."
Statement of Responsibility MA
246: Varying Form of Title MA
Use this tag and its varying indicators in accordance with LC Rule Interpretations 21.30J and the cataloger's best judgment. The cataloger must know the distinction between tag 246 and tag 740 (added title/title analytic).
250: Edition Statement MA
The edition statement usually follows the standard interpretation of AACR2 Rule 1.2B. However, to enhance patron retrieval, the following local practices prevail:
  • Ordinal numerals preceding "large print" are dropped- "1st large print ed." becomes Large print ed.
  • Names of publishers, series, and peripheral information included with "large print" are dropped- "A G.K. Hall large print ed." becomes Large print ed.
  • Abridged and unabridged versions of works are noted in this field- Abridged, or Unabridged.
260: Imprint M
The imprint field must contain the following subfields, punctuated according to International Standard Bibliographic Description standards:
‡a place of publication, or the place guessed or known based on other information, or if none given or known, [S. l.] M
‡b publisher and/or distributor M
‡c date of publication and/or copyright date M
300: Physical Description M
The physical description field must contain the following subfields:
‡a number of volumes and/or pagination; for unpaged children's works, pages must be counted and given M
‡b illustrative matter MA
‡c dimensions MA
4XX Series Statement
This field must be present, if available. There can be more than one series statement- traced, untraced, or traced differently. For all traced series, eliminate initial articles. A traced series statement is a controlled heading, i.e., subject to authority control. For further explanation see LCRI 1.6.
5XX: Note Fields1 MA1
500: Source of title if not from t.p. MA
504: Bibliography note MA
505 Contents note MA
Contents notes are required locally for short stories, plays, literary collections, fairy tales, songs, and Supreme Court cases; they are optional for other works. For collections of biographies, use a Summary Note, because it will index as subject keywords.
520: Summary MA
Summary notes are required for children's materials.
6XX: Subject Headings MA2
Subject headings, when applicable, are required for most printed material. CCS requires character subject headings, when applicable, for works of fiction and has local guidelines for foreign language instructional materials detailed in the CCS Cataloging Manual.
7XX: Added Entries MA3
8XX: Explicit Series Tracing MA
Required when the standardized form for tracing the series is not accommodated by the 4XX field.
910 Local Overlay Field MA
This is used only when the record being edited and/or imported to the CCS database is intended to overlay an existing CCS record.

1 Only those notes that support identification of item need be included. Criteria may vary from one item to another. Notes are not required to justify added entries.
2 If appropriate, assign at least one or two subject headings from Library of Congress Subject Headings or Annotated Card Program and/or appropriate genre list, depending on audience. Subject headings should be assigned at the appropriate level of specificity.
3 Use judgment in assessing each item and assign a complement of added entries, which cover relationships associated with a work (e.g., joint authors, corporate bodies, or titles of related works). The inclusion and importance of added entries are intended to reflect individual cataloger's judgment and/or local institutional policy.