Music Library Association Best Practices for dimensions
Prerecording
Prerecording
Routinely record the element except for online resources. For additional guidance and examples for certain types of audio and video carriers, see Supplements to Best Practices for Music Cataloging Using RDA and MARC21 Supplement 1: Guidelines for Describing and Encoding Attributes of Audio Recording Carriers.
LC/PCC practice: For subordinate materials (e.g., accompanying materials, kits, etc.), use cataloger's judgment when a detailed description of carrier characteristics is desired.
Recording
Recording
In MARC: Record as an unstructured description using field 300 subfield $c. Also, optionally: Record as an unstructured description using field 340 subfield $b.
See examples in MARC format: dimensions . For related examples see also: Describing a manifestation .
Option
LC practice: Apply the option for most carriers. Do not apply the option for discs, all audio carriers, film, and tape. See specific carriers below for further guidance.
Option
LC practice: Apply the option to record dimensions in inches for discs, all audio carriers, and videocassette tape with a width other than 8 mm. Apply the option to record gauge in millimeters for film, tape, and videocassette tape with a width of 8 mm. See specific carriers below for further guidance.
Option
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.
Recording an unstructured description
Dimensions of carriers
Cards
Cartridges
Audio cartridges
Condition Option
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option. Use inches rather than centimeters or millimeters.
Computer cartridges
Condition Option
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option. Record the length in centimeters.
Film, filmstrip, and video cartridges
Microfilm cartridges
Cassettes
Audiocassettes
Condition Option
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option. Use inches rather than centimeters or millimeters.
Computer cassettes
Film and videocassettes
Condition Option
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option in most cases. For tape width other than 8 mm, record the width in inches.
Condition Option
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.
Condition Option
LC/PCC practice: Do not apply the option. Instead use Manifestation: note on dimensions of manifestation if considered important for identification or selection.
LC practice: For archival moving image materials, apply the option.
Microfiche cassettes
Microfilm cassettes
Discs
Condition Option
LC/PCC practice: Record the diameter of the disc in inches.
Filmstrips and filmslips
Flipcharts
Microfiches
Overhead transparencies
Reels
Audiotape reels
Condition Option
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option. Use inches rather than centimeters or millimeters.
Computer tape reels
Film and videotape reels
Microfilm reels
Condition Option
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.
Rolls
Film and microfilm rolls
Sheets
Condition
Do not consider this condition to apply to single- or multiple-sheet scores or parts intended to be read as leaves or pages. Refer to the instructions at Volumes.
Condition Option
Apply the option for scores and parts of conventional (portrait) orientation. Otherwise apply the instructions at Volumes.
Condition Option
Condition Option
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.
Slides
Three-dimensional forms
Globes
Other three-dimensional forms
Volumes
Condition Option
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.
LC/PCC practice: For rare materials, see DCRM (B,S) 5D1.2.
Condition Option
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.
Condition Option
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.
Condition Option
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.
Condition Option
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.
Condition Option
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.
Condition Option
LC/PCC practice: Do not apply the option. Instead use Manifestation: note on dimensions of manifestation if considered important for identification or selection.
Dimensions of container
Condition Option
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.
Condition Option
LC/PCC practice: Cataloger's judgment.
Condition Option
LC/PCC practice: Cataloger's judgment.
Multiple unit manifestations
Multiple unit manifestations
For notated music resources, refer first to the instructions at Notated music.
Condition Option
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.
Condition Option
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.
Condition Option
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.
Condition Option
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.
Unbound sheets of text
Unbound sheets of text
Also consider these instructions to apply to notated music resources.
Condition Option
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.
Condition Option
For notated music issued as two or more nested folded sheets, or one or more nested folded sheets with one or more unfolded sheets in the middle, and intended to be read as consecutive pages, instead apply the instructions at Volumes.
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.
Notated music
Condition Option
If multiple terms for notated music resources are needed, do not record the terms in alphabetical order. Instead, order terms in the following order of precedence:
- score
- condensed score
- study score
- piano conductor part
- violin conductor part
- vocal score
- piano score
- chorus score
- part
- choir book
- table book
If carriers of the same type are of different sizes, use cataloger's judgment in deciding the order.
In MARC: Record dimensions of a carrier in field 300 $c following the extent of that same carrier in 300 $a. Record carriers of different sizes in separate 300 fields; alternatively, record separate occurrences of $c and $a within the same 300 field.
Manifestations in two or more containers
Condition Option
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.
Condition Option
LC/PCC practice: Apply the option.
Change in dimensions
Recording a structured description
Recording an identifier
Recording an IRI
Document Date: 2025/03/25
Document: https://access.rdatoolkit.org/en-US_ala-3d1dc4b7-ad78-3529-b174-849d97d3eb58