Home → Item Cataloging and Holdings Management → Selecting Matching Bib Record → Matching Specialized Materials: Juvenile & Young Adult
Last Updated 01/07/2026
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When evaluating records for juvenile and YA material, it's important to look for specific metadata in the MARC record that designates the material as juvenile or YA. Furthermore, indications that a title is specifically for a board book must be identified before attaching a board book to an existing record.
When evaluating bibliographic records for juvenile and young adult materials, catalogers should follow the same guidelines for matching adult materials to the correct records. However, to ensure the items being cataloged are true matches, especially for differently formatted materials such as board books, there are some additional criteria in the MARC record to review. This is especially important when cataloging board books, which must be attached to specific records for that format. Do not attach board books to paper picture book records and vice versa.
In the =008 fixed field, the Audn (for "Audience") code defines the target audience of the work.
When evaluating a record for a board book, it must include the GMD $h[board book] in the =245 title field. When looking for a board book record, if all other parts of the record match, but the GMD $h is not present, do not attach a board book to the record.
For example:
=245 14$aThe very hungry caterpillar$h[board book] /$cby Eric Carle.
When evaluating a record for a board book, in addition to the GMD, you may also see the following =250 edition statement:
=250 \\$aBoard book edition.
When evaluating a record for a board book, in addition to the GMD, you may also see the following =500 note:
=500 \\$aOn board pages.
Note: If a record has a board book edition statement or a =500 Note, but does not have a GMD, report the bib record to a bibliographic cataloger for review before attaching your item to it.
In the case of illustrated works like picture books, there should be an additional =336 field noting as such in the record as shown below:
=336 \\$atext$btxt$2rdacontent
=336 \\$astill image$bsti$2rdacontent
While not a required field, many juvenile records may include an age range or reading level of the work. For young adult materials, you will often see this with manga and graphic novels, as described here. The age level or rating can usually be found on the front or back cover of the work. It is not necessary for this designation to be present to attach a record, but can be useful in identifying that a record is for a juvenile or YA title, and therefore a match for the item you are attaching to the record.
For reference:
=521 0\$aAccelerated Reader$bXX$c#.#$d#.#$z####. (when applicable)
=521 1\$aAges xx - xx.$bSource (when applicable)
=521 2\$aGrades xx - xx.$bSource (when applicable)
=521 8\$aLexile number$bLexile (when applicable)
For juvenile materials, subject headings in =6XX fields should include a subfield $v that designates the work as such. Note that the subfield $v is repeatable.
Look for the following subfield $v's when determining if a record refers to juvenile materials:
$vJuvenile fiction.
$vJuvenile literature.
$vComic books, strips, etc.$vJuvenile fiction. (For "fiction" comic works)
$vComic books, strips, etc.$vJuvenile literature. (For "nonfiction" comic works)
=655 \7$aBoard books.$2lcgft
=655 \7$aPicture books.$2lcgft
=655 \7$aStories in rhyme.$2lcgft
=655 \7$aTeen television programs.$2lcgft
=655 \7$aTeen films.$2lcgft
=655 \7$aYoung adult fiction.$2lcsh
=655 \7$aYoung adult literature.$2lcsh
=655 \7$aYoung adult drama.$2lcsh
=655 \7$aYoung adult poetry.$2lcsh