MFHD - MARC Formatting for Holdings Data
What it is
MFHD stands for MARC Formatting for Holdings Data. MFHD holdings allow libraries to attach their local holdings to the bibliographic records. MFHD records are covered in AACR2 and follow the regulations of CONSUR, a cooperative online serials cataloging program. CONSUR is a source of high quality bib records for serials and sets the serials standards. For more information, go to : http://www.loc.gov/acq/conser/
For Michigan Evergreen purposes, when adding an MFHD record, we will add 853 and 863 MARC fields.
853 Field : Captions and Patterns Field -shows frequency and enumeration of a serial title
The first level of enumeration ($a) is the highest level of enumeration. For example, if a magazine is published 12 times/year, and each year has a new volume and each volume contains twelve monthly numbers, beginning in January of 2006, the January issue would be v.30:no.1. The numbers are within the volume; therefore volume is the 1st level of enumeration and number is the second level of enumeration ($b). In this case, the first level of chronology is ($i) year while the second level of chronology is ($j) month.
That being said, we have v.22:no.2 (2006:Feb.) in hand.
In this example - The 1st level of enumeration ($a) is volume v. The 2nd level of enumeration ($b) is number no. The 1st level of chronology ($i) is year (year) The 2nd level of chronology: ($j) is month (month)
[“year” and “month” and enclosed within parenthesis because we don’t want the words “year” and “month” to display in the OPAC record. In the case of “no.”, we want the display to say “no.2”.]
Numbering continuity ($v) indicates whether the enumeration has continuously incrementing numbers or whether the numbering restarts at the completion of a specific unit. In this case, we know that v.21, no.1 was published in 2005 and v.22, no.1 was published in 2006. The first issue of the year (and hence, the volume) is always “no.1”, therefore this piece restarts at the completion of the unit and would be noted $v r if the piece didn’t restart at the completion of the unit and was continuous – it would be $v c there are only 2 options for $v. For example, when there is one volume numbered 1-12 instead of going to number 13 when the first level of enumeration (in this case the volume) moves forward one increment, it starts numbering over at 1.
Frequency ($w) indicates the publication frequency of an item. This information can be gleaned from the 310 in the bibliographic record. The 310 for this record states that the piece comes out on a monthly basis and would be noted $w m
NOTE: Every 853 and 863 MUST contain a $a. If the enumeration of a piece is represented by only the month and year, the year is under $a and the month is under $b. For example – a serial title is published six times a year, every other month, with no indication to volumes or numbers, the first level of enumeration would be $a (year) and $b (month)
The Indicators (for our purposes) for the 853 field will be 2 and 0. For further information about the 853 field go to: http://www.loc.gov/marc/holdings/hd853855.html
853 always starts: 853 $8 1
Subfields $a – first (highest level of enumeration) $b – second level of enumeration
After enumeration – there is chronology
$i - highest level of chronology $j - second level of chronology
Then there is numbering and frequency
$v - numbering continuity $w - frequency of publication
NOTE: For a list of accepted caption abbreviations, please see: http://www.loc.gov/acq/conser/conserhold/Captabbr.htm
863 Field: enumeration and chronology of the library’s holdings
The 863 is where you enter information pertaining to what pieces your institution owns. It works directly with the 853 to display holdings. If your 863 and 853 do not agree, then the system will not display them correctly.
• The enumeration levels relate to with the value entered in the corresponding field in the 853. In the 853 we entered v. as the first level on enumeration ($a). We want this record to represent v.22, no.2-. Therefore, “22-” should be entered as the first level of enumeration ($a) and “2-” under the second level ($b) in the 863 field. • • Likewise with chronology. “2006-” is entered under the first level ($i), and “02-”, representing “February” is entered under the second level ($j).
Indicators (for Michigan Evergreen purposes) will be 4 and 0
863 4 0 $8 1.1 (linking field to correspond with the 853 $8 1) $a 22- $b 2- $i 2006- $j 02-
Example – a library has a the serial title: The Journal of Hamsters and Gerbils – it is published in twelve monthly issues, which make up one yearly volume. Each year is assigned a new volume. This serial title began in January, 2001 with volume 1, no. 1. Your library began a new subscription with Volume 3, no. 7, published in July, 2003.
The 853 and 863 MARC fields would look like:
853 2 0 $8 1 $a v. $b no. $i (year) $j (month) $v r $w m
863 4 0 $8 1.1 $a 3- $b 7- $i 2003- $j 07-
To add an MFHD record to a serial, search for the record and bring it up in the OPAC view. Click on the Add MFHD Record button.
The system will send a message: “Created MFHD record for Dora” Click on OK.
Now that the MFHD record has been created, the holdings need to be added to the MARC record. Click on the Edit Holdings drop-down and select Edit Record.
A new window will open. Notice that the 852 field is DORA – this means that the holdings will be attached to the DORA branch of our library. In this example, the library has all holdings from February 1995 (volume 27) on. It is a monthly journal that starts with a new volume and number 1 every new year. We need to add an 853 field and a corresponding 863 field. The following 853 MARC field will be added:
853 2 0 $8 1 $a v. $b no. $i (year) $j (month) $v r $w m
863 4 0 $8 1.1 $a 27- $b 2- $i 1995- $j 02-
Click on the Save MFHD button to save the changes.
The OPAC view of the same record will look like this:
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