Form/Genre Headings (MARC 21 field 655) provide library patrons and librarians with a systematic method of identifying specific physical formats and genres of library materials described in the HOLLIS Catalog.

The following terms are mandatory for use in the index when cataloging these materials in HOLLIS:

655_0 |aAudiotapes
655_0 |aCD-ROMs
655_0 |aDVD-ROMs (added 10/18/05)
655_0 |aDVD-Video discs (added 10/18/05)
655_0 |aVideodiscs
655_7 |aVideotapes.|2local

The following term has been removed from the list as of 10/18/05 and is no longer mandatory in current cataloging:

655_7 Computer network resources.|2local

Note: In 2002, the second indicator was redefined from “Source of term” to “Thesaurus” and values 0-6 were added to specify the particular thesaurus used to establish a form/genre heading. Headings in the list that are compatible with LCSH are now coded 655_0 rather than 655_7 |2local.

While these terms are mandatory for prospective cataloging, each library is responsible for deciding to add them retrospectively to existing records. In order to provide the most comprehensive subject access, we recommend the use of duplicate terms in 650 and 655 fields when appropriate.

To serve the needs of various constituencies, terms from more than one thesaurus may be pertinent in one record, and an established term in one thesaurus may be a variant term in another.

Authority records: Since Aleph cannot accommodate authority records from more than one thesaurus in the same database, there is no authority control of headings in the Form/Genre database. Catalogers must use valid terms from recognized thesauri and code them appropriately, but authority records are not added to the database.

Instructions for Using 655 Field in HOLLIS

1. To use the 655 field, search the Aleph Form/Genre index for an appropriate term.
2. When you identify an appropriate term, add it to your record along with the appropriate second indicator coding (and a |2 in the case of value 7 in the second indicator) to identify the source thesaurus.
3. If no appropriate term appears in the index, refer to one of the nationally recognized thesauri cited in the MARC Code List for Relators, Sources, Description Conventions.

Caution: Although a format-specific thesaurus may include a relevant term, the thesaurus may assume a particular context that will be lacking in a multi-format shared bibliographic database such as HOLLIS. A qualified term or a more specific term may be more appropriate.

The most commonly used sources are:

655_7 |2aat

   AAT: Art   architecture thesaurus. (New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press)

655_7 |2gmgpc

   Thesaurus for graphic materials: TGM II, Genre and physical characteristic terms

   (Washington, DC: Library of Congress, Cataloging Distribution Service)

655_7 |2gsafd

   Guidelines on subject access to individual works of fiction, drama, etc.

   (Chicago: Resources and Technical Services Division, American Library Association)

655_0

   Library of Congress subject headings. (Washington, Library of Congress)

655_2

   Medical subject headings (MeSH). (Bethesda, MD: National Library of Medicine)

655_7 |2rbbin

   Binding terms: a thesaurus for use in rare book and special collections cataloging.

   (Chicago: Association of College and Research Libraries, American Library Association)

655_7 |2rbgenr

   Genre terms: a thesaurus for use in rare book and special collections cataloging.

   (Chicago: Association of College and Research Libraries)

655_7 |2rbpap

   Paper terms: a thesaurus for use in rare book and special collections cataloging.

   (Chicago: Association of College and Research Libraries,

   American Library Association) [Used for printing terms]

655_7 |2rbpri

   Printing and publishing evidence: a thesaurus for use in rare book and special

   collections cataloging.(Chicago: Association of College and Research Libraries,

   American Library Association) [Used for printing terms]

655_7 |2rbprov

   Provenance evidence: a thesaurus for use in rare book and special collections cataloging.

   (Chicago: Association of College and Research Libraries, American Library Association)

655_7 |2rbpub

   Printing and publishing evidence: a thesaurus for use in rare book and special collections cataloging.

   (Chicago: Association of College and Research Libraries, American Library Association)

   [Used for publishing terms]

655_7 |2rbtyp

   Type evidence: a thesaurus for use in rare book and special collections cataloging.

   (Chicago: Association of College and Research Libraries, American Library Association)

   [Used for printing terms

rev. 11/30/05