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10.7. Use of Single Bib Record for Audiobooks

Last Updated 02/18/2026

Combined Records for Audiobooks

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Audiobooks should share a bibliographic record when both the content and format are the same. Bibliographic Catalogers are responsible for ensuring that audiobooks match prior to merging records.

Audiobooks with the exact same content and in the same format should be combined on the same bibliographic record, even if non-content features such as publisher or distributor differs. The intention is for the NC Cardinal catalog to be as patron friendly as possible to simplify searching, even in cases where official cataloging rules might recommend creating multiple separate records. 

Basic Guidelines

Do use a single bibliographic record for audiobooks when content is exactly the same:

• Same narrator
• Length of recording is identical
• Same number of discs
• Same format
• Records for audiobooks that have different OCLC numbers (=035 field) but match in most or all other respects. In such cases, merge the records and append all OCLC numbers from both the lead and sub bibs onto the final, merged bib.

Do NOT use a single bib record for audiobooks when the items differ from one another in the following ways:

• Different narrator
• Abridged vs unabridged
• Additional special content (e.g. bonus disc, interview with author, etc.)
• Different recording length or number of discs
  Different format (e.g. MP3 vs standard audio CD vs e-audio)

In these scenarios, a separate bib record is required.

A Note about Publishers/Distributors

If the item you have in hand matches an existing record in NC Cardinal in terms of the content, but has a different publisher or distributor, you can attach your item to the existing record.

• Add an 028 (with a $q note with the name of the entity responsible for the item in hand) even if 264 lists a different publisher.
• Do NOT add another 264 -2 for distributor.