Home → Cataloging Bibliographic Records → Adding New Bibliographic Records → Creating Original Records

4.3. Creating Original Records

Last Updated 02/02/2026

Original Cataloging

On This Page

Catalogers rarely need to create original records. Examples of records that meet basic requirements for the NC Cardinal catalog for different formats are included below.

Bibliographic catalogers can create original records for resources that do not already have a record. Before creating an original record, catalogers MUST thoroughly search NC Cardinal, OCLC, and Z39.50.

Requirements for Original Records:

All records must:

• Have accurate coding in the fixed/control fields.
• Be as complete/full as possible.
• Include the elements outlined in the NC Cardinal MARC Record Templates.

Explanations of select MARC fields commonly seen in records for different types of media:

Books:

CDs:

DVDs:

Serials: