Leader - Type and BLvl

Type of Record (Type) and Bibliographic Level (BLvl) are in bytes 06 and 07 of the leader and the two codes work together to identify the kind of material that is being cataloged.

Before we proceed, let's take a moment to review MARC bibliographic formats. These are essentially defined containers for holding the cataloging details of various kinds of materials. The formats are: Books (BKS), Computer Files (COM), Continuing Resources (CNR), Maps (MAP), Mixed Materials (MIX), Scores (SCO), Sound Recordings (REC), and Visual Materials (VIS). All MARC bibliographic records are one of these formats.

Type is the "code used to define the characteristics and components of the record. It is used to differentiate records created for various types of content and material and to determine the appropriateness and validity of certain data elements in the record." For example, if the item being cataloged is a musical sound recording the type code will be "j." If it is language material (think written words) the type code will be "a." There are 15 different type codes defined. For each of the bibliographic formats there are specific type codes that may be used. For example, you can only use type "e" (cartographic material) in a MAP format record. 

BLvl is the "code indicating the bibliographic level of the record, i.e., mode of issuance, relationship of component part, etc." There are 7 defined values for BLvl. Only some of them are appropriate to use with particular Type codes and the combination of Type and BLvl defines what sort of thing is being cataloged.  

Here is the example leader we have been looking at this month:

 02595cam_a2200469_a_4500

The Type code is "a" (language material) and the Blvl is "m" (monograph). This makes perfect sense as this is the leader from the record for the book Jane Kenyon: A Literary Life.

BF&S includes a table which outlines the relationship between formats and allowed Type and BLvl combinations. In addition to the basic table, there is also a list of special cases, such as theses and dissertations, where the coding may not be immediately apparent to the cataloger and guidance is offered.