UNIMARC Functional Blocks

The fields of the bibliographic record are divided into functional blocks, the first

digit of the tag indicates the block of the field [McCallum, 1989].

0 — Identification block, contains those numbers that identify the record of

the work (e.g., ISBN, ISSN).

1 — Coded Information block, contains fixed length coded data elements

describing various aspects of the work.

2 — Descriptive block, contains the areas covered by the ISBD (i.e.

title, edition, imprint, collation, series) with the exception of standard

number and notes.

3 — Notes block, contains free text statements describing various aspects

of the work.

4 — Linking Entry block, contains standard links in numeric and textual

form to other records.

5 — Related Title block, contains titles to be used as access points.

6 — Subject Analysis block, contains subject identification (e.g., UDC,

Library of Congress Subject Headings, etc.).Personal and corporate

names used as subjects will appear in this block.

7 — Intellectual Responsibility block, contains names of persons and

corporate bodies responsible for the creation of the work described

in access point form.

8 — International Use block, contains internationally agreed field that

do not fit in the preceding blocks, 0– to 7–. This block includes fields

on originating agency, ISSN Center, general cataloguer’s note and

electronic location and access.

9 — National Use block, reserved for national use by agencies where

UNIMARC is the basis of the domestic format.

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