Formatted Contents Notes (MARC tag 505)

Contents notes contain the titles of separate works or parts of an item. They may also include statements of responsibility and other information about the works or parts. Contents notes increase access to resources through keyword and/or indexed searches.

Types of contents notes:

• Unenhanced: All information is coded in one subfield a. Searchable by keyword only
  • MARC Coding: 505 0 _ ‡a
  • Use unenhanced contents notes for:
    • Non-fiction books with just chapter titles
    • resources with more than 25 distinct works
    • Collective biographies
• Enhanced: Titles entered in individual subfield t. Searchable by keyword and title index.
  • MARC Coding (one of the following):
    • 505 0 0 ‡t
    • 505 1 0 ‡t
    • 505 2 0 ‡t
  • Use enhanced contents notes for:
    • Resources with 25 or fewer distinct works
    • Track titles for music CDs, vinyl, scores, etc.

Creation/Editing/Deletion of contents notes:

• In most cases, retain existing contents notes in OCLC records. Enhance as appropriate according to the handout on notes [forthcoming].  
  • Exception: delete a contents note in a record for a fiction work if the contents note reflects only chapter titles rather than titles of essays, plays, poems, or short stories, etc.
• In OCLC Connexion Client:
  • If a record has an unenhanced contents note and the record contains added entries for each title in MARC tag 740, it may be left as is.
  • If a record has an unenhanced contents note but does not contain added 740s for each title, the contents note should be enhanced if appropriate according to the handout on notes [forthcoming].
  • Add contents notes to OCLC record before exporting the record to Polaris.
• Omit generic terms such as Introduction, Conclusion, Prologue, Finale, Overture, and similar terms used as titles. If these terms have been omitted, the contents note should be coded as a partial contents note.
• Retain initial articles in titles in subfield t. This includes initial articles in English (a, an, the) as well as initial articles in other languages.

 

See handout on notes [forthcoming] for specific examples and requirements for different variations of contents notes.

Rev. 10-2024