[Yulcat-l] New Policy on 856 subfield y/subfield 3

[Arakawa, Steven]

A document detailing the new tagging policy for 856 linking notes has been posted at:

http://www.library.yale.edu/cataloging/Orbis2Manual/856link.htm

A link has been added to Cataloging at Yale:Special Formats/e-Resources, item 11.

http://www.library.yale.edu/cataloging/indexspecial.htm

>From the new document:
"For field 856, it is YUL policy to display a linking text in the OPAC view rather than a URL. By default, the field to enter the linking text has been subfield 3.

"In the current MARC 21 bibliographic standard, subfield $y is now used to "contain link text which is used for display in place of the URL in subfield $u. ... Subfield $3 contains information that specifies the part of the described material to which the field applies."

"In most cases, $y should be used instead of $3 for entering linking text, since the bibliographic record is generally intended to describe the e-resource as a whole. Both fields should not be used in the same 856 field, since the presence of $3 will prevent $y from display in the OPAC. In some rare cases where both $y and $3 are needed, two 856 fields should be created."

The new policy will apply to original cataloging only. It is not intended to apply retroactively or to new member copy. It is not a requirement for batch-loaded records, but may be applied if revising the profile is not burdensome.

Subfield 3 is still appropriate as the linking text for online guides to microfilm sets and as the linking text to online finding aids.

Steven Arakawa
Catalog Librarian for Training & Documentation
Catalog & Metadata Services, SML, Yale University
P.O. Box 208240 New Haven, CT 06520-8240
(203)432-8286 steven.arakawa at yale.edu