4.6. Matching Specialized Materials: Kits

Last Updated 01/07/2026

Cataloging Kits

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Kits should not be attached to records for any individual materials within a kit. This page includes information about identifying matching records for kits.

Kits are a collection of materials, sometimes created by a library and sometimes by a publisher or vendor. It is important that kits be easily identified and distinguished from the individual included titles, both by patrons and catalogers. Before adding a new volume or item record for a kit, Item Catalogers should search the catalog to determine whether there is a matching record for the kit (if commercially obtained) or request that a Bibliographic Cataloger create a specific record for a kit that includes information about all materials included in the kit.

Note: An Item Cataloger should not attach a multi-piece kit to a bibliographic record that is for only one of the items included in the kit.

Fields to Look for When Examining a Kit Record for a Match

A unique title in the 245 $a (not the title of any individual book in the kit).
The GMD $h[kit] in the 245.
The Kit format icon.

Additionally, the MARC record must include appropriate information about all the included materials.

ISBNs for the included materials should NOT be listed in the 020 $a, but instead in the $z.
All titles of included items should be listed in the 500 or 505.
Authors/creators should be listed in the 7XX fields, and a 100 should not be included unless all materials have a single author/creator.

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