300 Physical Description (R)

For archival materials and manuscripts, use subfield ǂa for the number of leaves, pages, items, containers, volumes, or linear feet. If you separately code the type of unit in subfield ǂf, subfield ǂa contains only the numeric extent designation.

For continuing resources, use subfield ǂa for the number of physical units. Enter the appropriate term from the list of carrier types. Precede the carrier by the number of physical units in Arabic numerals for publications that are complete. See RDA 3.4.1.3 and RDA 3.3.1.3. For AACR2, see rule 12.5B1.

For cartographic materials, use subfield ǂa for the number of physical units. Enter the appropriate term from the list of carrier types preceded by the number of physical units in Arabic numerals. See RDA 3.4.2.2. For AACR2, see rule 3.5B1.

For computer files, use subfield ǂa for the number of physical units. Enter the appropriate term from the list of carrier types preceded by the number of physical units in Arabic numerals. See RDA 3.4.1.3 and RDA 3.3.1.3. For AACR2, see rule 9.5B1.

For scores, use subfield ǂa for the number of physical units. Enter the appropriate term from the list of carrier types preceded by the number of physical units in Arabic numerals. See RDA 3.4.3.2 and RDA 7.20.1.3. For AACR2, see rule 5.5B1. Do not repeat subfield ǂa if you are entering multiple adjacent phrases. Enter multiple adjacent phrases in the same subfield ǂa. However, repeat subfield ǂa if you are cataloging scores and parts that are not adjacent because subfield ǂb or subfield ǂc separate it from the main extent data. Enter the pagination or number of volumes in parentheses following the carrier type. If you are cataloging different types of scores and/or parts in a single physical unit, record the extent in the form: 1 score and 4 parts, etc., followed by the number of pages, leaves, or columns, in parentheses. See RDA 3.4.3.2.

For sound recordings, use subfield ǂa for the number of physical units. Enter the appropriate term from the list of carrier types preceded by the number of physical units in Arabic numerals. See RDA 3.4.1.3 and RDA 3.3.1.3. For AACR2, see rule 6.5B1. Enter the playing time in parentheses following the carrier type when appropriate. See RDA 7.22.1.3, RDA B.5.3, and RDA B.7.

For visual materials, use subfield ǂa for the number of physical units. Enter the appropriate term from the list of carrier types preceded by the number of physical units in Arabic numerals. See RDA 3.3.1.3. For motion pictures and video recordings, enter the playing time or number of frames in parentheses following the carrier type. See RDA 7.22.1.3, RDA B.5.3, and RDA B.7. For AACR2, see rule 7.5B1.

For graphic materials, enter the number of frames, sheets, or overlays in parentheses following the carrier type. See RDA 3.4.1.7. For AACR2, see rule 8.5B1.

For three-dimensional artifacts and realia, enter the number and the type(s) of the component pieces in parentheses following the carrier type. See RDA 3.4.6.3. For AACR2, see rule 10.5B1.

For multipart items that are not yet complete, enter the appropriate term for the carrier without the number. See RDA 3.4.1.10.

For archival materials and manuscripts, use subfield ǂb for the material on which a single manuscript is written (except when that material is paper) and also for illustrative matter in the manuscript or the manuscript collection.

For cartographic materials, use subfield ǂb for the number of maps in an atlas, color characteristics, composition of material, and mounting.

For computer files, use subfield ǂb for the sound and/or display encoding, the number of sides used, the recording density, and the sectoring.

For sound recordings, prefer use of field 344 for recording sound characteristics such as the type of recording, the playing speed, the groove characteristic, the track configuration, the number of tracks and sound channels, and the recording and reproduction characteristics. See RDA 3.16.1.3-RDA 3.16.9.3 and Best Practices for Music Cataloging.

For visual materials, use subfield ǂb for the other physical details appropriate to the material. For motion pictures and video recordings, enter the aspect ratio and special projection characteristics, sound characteristics, color characteristics, and projection speed.

For three-dimensional artifacts and realia, enter the composition of material and color characteristics.

For archival materials and manuscripts, use subfield ǂc for the size of the manuscript, item, container, or volume.

For scores, do not repeat subfield ǂc when dimensions are given as part of the description of accompanying material. However, repeat subfield ǂc when dimensions are associated with a repeated subfield ǂa. Also, if the dimensions of the score or parts differ, enter each dimension in a separate subfield ǂc following the score or part to which it pertains.

For print continuing resources, use subfield ǂc for the size of the item. For non-print continuing resources, use subfield ǂc for the dimensions appropriate to the type of material.

Repeat subfield ǂf when alternate or additional forms of extent data are given. Record alternate forms of extent data in parentheses.

Punctuation

• Optionally, follow an initial subfield ǂ3 by a colon-space or a space-colon-space if following an open date
• Precede second and subsequent occurrences of subfield ǂa by a space-plus-space in most cases
• Precede subfield ǂb by a space-colon-space
• Precede subfield ǂc by a space-semicolon-space
• Precede subfield ǂe by a space-plus-space, i.e., a plus sign rather than an ampersand or the word and
• Enclose the extent, other physical details, and dimensions following a statement of accompanying material in subfield ǂe in parentheses
• Precede other physical details of accompanying material in subfield ǂe by a space-colon-space if it is not the first element within parentheses
• Precede dimensions of accompanying material in subfield ǂe by a space-semicolon-space if it is not the first element within parentheses
• Precede each additional statement of accompanying material in subfield ǂe by a space-plus-space
• Enclose any text within brackets and parentheses as required by cataloging instructions
• Include incidental punctuation needed within any subfields, e.g., commas, periods (following abbreviations or initials), etc.
• When field 490 is also present, optionally, add a terminal period at the end of the field unless the last subfield ends with an ellipsis or period (following an abbreviation or initial)

Note: The designations cm and mm are not treated as abbreviations and are not followed by periods.

For records containing non-ISBD punctuation, see the cataloging instructions used to create the record.

For records containing minimal or no punctuation, include brackets, parentheses, and incidental punctuation needed within any subfields. Otherwise, omit the punctuation outlined above.

For more information on punctuation, including OCLC policy, see section 2.8, Punctuation.

Indexing

For indexing and searching information, see Searching WorldCat Indexes, field 300.

MARC 21

For more information, including content designator history, see MARC 21 Format for Bibliographic Data, field 300.