The list of carrier types on the MARC web site includes under each
category of carrier an "other" term, e.g. "other microform carrier," and
a MARC code for the 338 field.* I also see an alignment between these
and some 007/01 codes. My understanding is that this carrier type list
originated with the 2007 draft of RDA chapter 3, which includes the
following paragraph:**
"If none of the terms listed above apply to the carrier(s) of the
resource being described, record 'other audio carrier,' 'other computer
carrier,' 'other microform carrier,' etc., as applicable. If none of the
broader categories (i.e., audio carrier, computer carrier, etc.) apply,
record 'other.'"***
However, neither the November 2008 full draft includes nor the March
2009 JSC minutes refer to the first sentence above.
That said, have these carrier-specific "other" terms made their way back
into the RDA text? If not, then should catalogers ignore these
terms/codes when performing RDA cataloging in MARC, even though a "$2
marccarrier" would cover them? A colleague here suggested that the
presence of the "other" terms and codes does not necessarily mean they
should be used. And if retaining the terms though they not be part of
RDA proper, I recommend the carrier-specific "others" be moved to a new
column on the web page titled "MARC carrier terms."
* <http://www.loc.gov/standards/valuelist/marccarrier.html>
** MARC discussion paper:
<http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2008/2008-dp05-3.html>
*** <http://www.rda-jsc.org/docs/5rda-parta-ch3rev.pdf>
--
Mark K. Ehlert Minitex
Coordinator University of Minnesota
Bibliographic & Technical 15 Andersen Library
Services (BATS) Program 222 21st Avenue South
Phone: 612-624-0805 Minneapolis, MN 55455-0439
