Cancellation of OCLC Holdings (MARC21 049)

BACKGROUND: The OCLC MARC 049 field is used to record the location of an item for the library. This holding code was previously used for the production of catalog cards in the Maag library. The holding code provided several pieces of information, some of it to be printed on the card, and some of it was for the profiling of what cards printed and for which card catalog they were to belong.

When the card catalog ceased to exist and the library went to a completely online catalog (OPAC), the 049 code was used as a “throw away” code. That is, the system used it to determine the location code that the local utility (such as MaagNet) used.

SCOPE: The local utility III (MaagNet) does not need the use of the 049 after the initial export of records from OCLC to MaagNet). The 049 holding codes from OCLC have not been kept up to date as new locations are added to MaagNet, therefore the codes in OCLC have no real effect on where an item finally resides.

1. Procedure for location. The location of an item when transferring from OCLC to MaagNet (III) is coded in the 949 MARC field. See the web page for the cataloging instructions for format, input instructions, etc.



2. Cancellation of OCLC codes. This cataloging procedure CANCELS the use of coding the 049 anymore. Catalog Department personnel will no longer code the MARC 049 field in OCLC for locations.



3. Recording of current locations. As in no. 1 above, the staff will code new materials in the 949 field if the item is being ADDED to the collection. (New items, gifts, etc). Items changing from one area to another will only have the III code changes (Bibliographic location and item record location). The 049 will not reflect the change nor will any maintenance be performed on this field.

Created March 21, 2000
Last modified 23 April 2002.
Questions or comments: email Jeffrey Trimble