MARC (Machine-Readable Cataloging)

MARC is a standard and serialization format for representing bibliographic metadata, originally designed as a way of exchanging bibliographic records between library catalogs. Various different versions have been defined, mostly with national or regional scope, of which MARC 21 is probably the most widely used. There also exists an XML serialization of MARC 21, known as MARCXML.

Used in

Documentation

Responsible organizations

Maintainer: Library of Congress
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Identifiers

Internal MSC ID: msc:m88

Version history

2018-11-09: version 27 (current) – MARC 21
2018-04-27: version 26 – MARC 21
2017-12-18: version 25 – MARC 21
2017-05-17: version 24 – MARC 21
2016-11-17: version 23 – MARC 21
2016-04-26: version 22 – MARC 21
2015-09-22: version 21 – MARC 21
2015-04-29: version 20 – MARC 21
2014-10-20: version 19 – MARC 21
2014-04-28: version 18 – MARC 21
2013-09-24: version 17 – MARC 21
2013-04-29: version 16 – MARC 21
2012-09-19: version 15 – MARC 21
2012-04-16: version 14 – MARC 21
2011-09-01: version 13 – MARC 21
2010-10-01: version 12 – MARC 21
2010-05-03: version 11 – MARC 21
2009-10-01: version 10 – MARC 21
2008-10-01: version 9 – MARC 21
2007-10-01: version 8 – MARC 21
2006-10-01: version 7 – MARC 21
2005-10-01: version 6 – MARC 21
2004-10-01: version 5 – MARC 21
2003-10-01: version 4 – MARC 21
2002-10-01: version 3 – MARC 21
2001-10-01: version 2 – MARC 21
2000-10-01: version 1 – MARC 21
1999-02-01: version 0 – MARC 21

Relationships to other metadata standards

MODS (Metadata Object Description Schema) is a profile of this scheme.
This scheme can be mapped to Dublin Core.

This document provides a crosswalk from core MARC 21 bibliographic data elements, specifically those considered useful for broad cross-domain resource discovery, to simple and qualified elements in the Dublin Core Element Set. It includes a mapping from Leader/06 and Leader/07 codes to the DMCI Type Vocabulary.
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This scheme can be mapped to MODS (Metadata Object Description Schema).

This document is intended for use in converting MARC 21 bibliographic records to MODS. Where multiple subfields are specified or implied in MARC, data will be concatenated with a space substituted for the subfield delimiter and subfield code. Where multiple MARC fields correspond to a single MODS element, each will be mapped to a separate instance of the element (with subfields concatenated). Because of this, it is not generally possible to perform a round-trip conversion without loss of specificity.
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This scheme can be mapped to CIDOC CRM.

A mapping from the UNIMARC Bibliographic format (2nd edition Update 4 2002) to the semantic model CIDOC CRM (version 4.0 April 2004).
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This scheme can be generated from Dublin Core.

This document provides a crosswalk from Dublin Core elements and Dublin Core terms to MARC 21 bibliographic data elements. It includes a mapping from the DMCI Type Vocabulary to Leader/06 codes.
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This scheme can be generated from MODS (Metadata Object Description Schema).

This document is intended for use in first converting a MODS record to MARCXML and then to a MARC 21 (ISO 2709) record. MARC 21 includes many more data elements than MODS, so although this mapping suggests a single MARC 21 equivalent for each MODS element, there may be other equivalents that are more appropriate for particular pieces of information. Additionally, MARC 21 is more granular than MODS so some data may map to inappropriate MARC 21 fields or subfields. Consequently, some conversions will result in some loss of data identification.
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Known users

Digital Repository of Ireland

Digital Repository of Ireland (DRI) is a national trusted digital repository (TDR) for Ireland’s social and cultural data. It supports records catalogued in Dublin Core, EAD, MARC XML and MODS.
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