Home → Cataloging in NC Cardinal → Item Cataloging → Videos
Last Updated 10/06/2023
An item cataloger should always evaluate the format and features when selecting a record to attach their video item. Is the disc in hand a DVD or Blu-ray format? Is it widescreen or not? What special features are included? What is the publication date and publisher? These factors can constitute a significant difference in content and determine how items should be cataloged.
Ideally, videos should be cataloged on a bibliographic record that corresponds to the UPC of the item(s) and based on the information for that particular publication and packaging. However, movie publishers create many different promotional packages and combinations that do not always suit the circulation preferences of the purchasing library. Cataloging different formats (such as DVDs and Blu-rays or Blu-rays and 4K Ultra HD Blu-rays) on the same or different records affects the way that these items are able to circulate. If both DVDs and Blu-rays, for example, are cataloged on the same record, patrons who place holds on that record may get either disc format. This can be upsetting for patrons who may be expecting one format and get the other.
A library system that wishes to catalog and/or circulate materials differently than they are packaged by publishers should follow these standards:
If a library purchases a combo pack that includes both a DVD disc and a Blu-ray disc (or a Blu-ray disc and a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray disc) and the library intends to circulate both the DVD disc and the Blu-ray disc together as a set, the combo pack should be cataloged on a single bibliographic record using the Blu-ray/DVD combo MARC template. This goes for a Blu-ray/4K Ultra HD Blu-ray combo pack, as well. The Blu-ray/DVD combo MARC template can be used as a reference to catalog a Blu-ray/4K Ultra HD Blu-ray combo pack. The UPC should be added to the 024 $a.
If a library decides to break up a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack and circulate the DVD and Blu-ray discs separately (or to break up a Blu-ray/4K Ultra HD Blu-ray combo pack and circulate the standard Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs separately), the two items must be cataloged on separate bibliographic records using the DVD only, Blu-ray only, and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray only MARC templates.* In order to avoid incorrect matching when other libraries are batch importing, the UPC for split DVD/Blu-ray sets (and split Blu-ray/4K Ultra HD Blu-ray sets) should be in the 024 $z (not $a) and a $q noting that it is for the set is also helpful. Add 500 $a note similar to "Originally released as part of a Blu-ray + DVD combo pack" or "Originally released as part of a Blu-ray + 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray combo pack."
If a library decides to break up other packaged sets in the same format — e.g. television season or other set of DVDs or a pair of Blu-ray discs or a pair of 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs — to circulate pieces of the set separately, the packaged set must be cataloged on the same bibliographic record with the items separated using Monograph Parts.
Rental videos require a separate bibliographic record from standard editions because rentals usually do not include special features and have a different UPC number than standard editions. The record must include the UPC in the 024 $a.
| *Note: If a Bibliographic Cataloger makes substantial changes to a bibliographic record (e.g. creating 2 separate records for DVD and Blu-ray from one record for the set when splitting a combo pack), that cataloger must remove identifiers for the set from the resultant edited record(s) — 028 (for the set), 035 (OCLC number) — before saving the edited record(s) to prevent incorrect matches to the edited record(s). |