FIRST WebAdmin Help Version 2.16 © 2012 FIRST Software Solutions Pty Ltd
USMARC comprises a set of codes and content designators defined for encoding machine-readable records. The FIRST USMARC cataloguing screen is based on specifications developed by the US Library of Congress.
Each bibliographic record is divided into fields, for example author. A 3-digit ‘tag’ represents each field. A tag identifies the field or kind of data that follows, for example 100 indicates the personal author field.
Most fields contain several related pieces of data. Each type of data within the field is called a ‘sub field’. Each sub field is preceded by a sub field code.
FIRST uses the dollar sign ($) as the delimiter portion of the sub field code. For example 100$a$d indicates Personal Author ($a), followed by the Date ($d) which is associated with the name, generally year of birth.
Two character positions follow each tag (with the exception of Fields 001 through 009). One or both of these character positions may be used for indicators.
Indicators are one-digit numbers following the tag. There are two character positions, one for Indicator 1 and one for Indicator 2. For example, 100 1#indicates Personal Author field is filed by Surname. The indicators are not defined in all fields.
FIRST supports original cataloguing on the USMARC cataloguing screen as well as MARC*Link import from Libraries Australia
MARC*Link allows libraries to download records from Libraries Australia via the Internet. Output from Libraries Australia is in USMARC only. Libraries Australia records are then imported into FIRST.
Bibliographic data can be entered in the Data column on the FIRST. The USMARC tab screen displays a template of tags and sub fields and a column for indicators.
Both the Author (tags 100, 110 etc.) and Subject (tags 610, 650 etc.) fields are ‘authority controlled’ fields i.e. data is selected (‘drag and drop’) from an associated Lookup list of available terms. A Series (440, 490 etc.) authority list or thesaurus is also optional.
Selected bibliographic details entered in the USMARC cataloguing screen are mapped to relevant fields on the main Catalogue screen.
All related catalogue functions, such as acquisitions, routing and adding electronic links, are available for records catalogued in USMARC format. Refer to relevant help topics to add orders and add shelf items.