Genre refers to a category of work with similar characteristics (i.e., mystery, horror, science fiction, romance, etc.). Genre terms are coded in MARC tag 655 and display in the PAC with the label Genre.
Guidelines
- Follow LC practice of using genre and form terms from the thesaurus named Library of Congress Genre/Form Terms for Library and Archival Materials (LCGFT)
- Add applicable genre/form
- Delete the following generic lcgft terms: Fiction, Novels, Literature, and Picture books
- If an LCGFT term is not available:
- Use a genre/form term from the thesaurus named Guidelines on subject access to individual works of fiction, drama, etc. (GSAFD) with the following exceptions:
- Do not use the heading Romantic suspense fiction
- The GSAFD terms Christian fiction and Regency fiction will be used as appropriate in Polaris records
- Use a genre/form term from the thesaurus named Guidelines on subject access to individual works of fiction, drama, etc. (GSAFD) with the following exceptions:
- If neither an LCGFT term nor a GSAFD term is available:
- Use an LCSH term coded as a genre/form term (see instructions below for guidelines on coding)
- Add any appropriate subject headings as indicated in SHARE local policies. See individual policies and the approved local subject headings list
- Add approved local subject headings to records when they are brought in to Polaris. Do not add them to master records in OCLC
- For guidelines on the use of Library of Congress Subject Headings as genre terms, see the following document on the Library of Congress website: Frequently Asked Questions about Library of Congress Genre/Form Terms for Library and Archival Materials (LCGFT). See Question 35 in that document in the section titled Application of terms
- If a Library of Congress topical heading can be used as a genre heading according to the above guidelines, approval as a local subject heading is not required
- Coding:
655 _0 $a[LC term].
- Coding:
- If a Library of Congress topical heading cannot be considered an LCSH genre
heading according to the above guidelines, but your library would like to use it that way, please submit a request for approval of a local subject heading. If it’s determined the heading may be used, it will be added to the list of approved local subject headings- Coding:
655 _7 $a[LC Term].$2local
- Coding:
- If a Library of Congress topical heading can be used as a genre heading according to the above guidelines, approval as a local subject heading is not required
MARC Coding:
- For terms from the LCGFT:
655 _7 $a[LCGFT term].$2lcgft - For terms from the GSAFD:
655_7 $a[GSAFD term].$2gsafd - For LC headings used as genre terms:
655 _0 $a[LC term].
Note: code LC headings being used as genre terms in MARC tag 655, not 650 - For LC headings approved for use as a local subject heading:
655 _7 $a[LC Term].$2local - For non-LC headings approved for use as a local subject heading:
690 _ _ $a[Term].
Rev. 3-2019