Video DVD Cataloging
Guidelines for cataloging video DVDs under AACR2 rules. Includes special instructions showing differences for Blu-ray discs, laser discs, videocassettes, PAL and non-U.S. region codes, and more than one disc in a case.
Fixed Field
Type: g
Tech: l (small L : stands for 'live action'). Usually this is what we have.
Time: Recorded as three numbers (053 = 53 min. ; 190 = 190 min. ; --- if unknown).
Should match the 300 field. Record in minutes, rounding up if necessary.
DtSt: Normally either s (single date) or p (production date)
p Dates: 2010,1973 (for 2010 DVD of a 1973 film)
Variable Fields
001 If there is more than one Sky number in the record, delete the unneeded one.
007 vd cvaizu is most common. Accept on copy.
028 42 Publisher number (usually on spine of case). Searchable in SkyRiver. Company name goes in the |b subfield. Example: CVV3722 |b Liberty Videos
049 EEM7 (or QEMI also works)
050/090 LC call number with VideoDVD after date: PN1995.9.W3 |b B56 2002 VideoDVD
You may accept the call number on copy. However, for "big-screen" movie releases, often copy will have PN1997. We prefer to change this to a more specific call number, using the A-Z list of special topics found in ClassWeb under PN1995.9 (or the old printed list). For example:
PN1995.9.S26 |b B55 2000 VideoDVD (science fiction film The blob)
PN1995.9.F67 |b E875 2004 VideoDVD (foreign film El Espinazo del Diablo)
PN1995.9.C543 |b H555 2001 VideoDVD (college life: Higher learning)
Regardless of what the A-Z list of topics says, fiction films should always go in the P classification. For instance, the A-Z list puts films about a specific war in the D classification. As of May 2011, we will not follow this practice and will put all war films under PN1995.9.W3.
Non-fiction films, however, should have a call number that goes with the subject.
245 GMD is |h [videorecording]
300 Use the term videodisc and include running time if available. Record size in inches (4 3/4 is standard).
1 videodisc (97 min.) : |b sd., col. ; |c 4 3/4 in.
508 (credits note) Accept as is. If none, add producer and director if easily available.
Producer, Sam Thomas ; director, Lesley Selander.
511 (cast note) Accept as is. First indicator can be either zero or one.
Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz.
520 (summary) Accept as is. If not there, construct from case information if possible.
538 DVD. (If copy has this in a 500 note, you may leave it.)
546 Language note, including subtitle information. Often differs with different editions of the video. Check for accuracy. (Information is usually on the container.)
6XX Same rules as for print. For fiction movies, there may be subjects with |v Drama.
Man-woman relationships |v Drama.
655 (genre) Always include the genre term Feature films for full-length movies (movie theater or direct-to-DVD). Add this genre term if necessary. This is important, since a list is run regularly of feature films held by the library.
655 _7 Feature films. |2 lcgft
Other genre terms may be used for full-length movies also. Generally accept them as is, though it is helpful to add a genre term when you are using a call number cutter such as .C55 (comedy films). Examples of additional genre terms for big-screen movies:
655 _7 Comedy films. |2 lcgft
655 _7 Science fiction films. |2 lcgft
655 _7 Horror films. |2 lcgft
A common genre term for non-fiction films is:
655 _7 Documentary films. |2 lcgft
7XX Accept as is. Video records often trace many people and production companies.
Physical Processing
VideoDVDs should not be left in jewel cases. Instead, place videoDVDs in taller DVD cases. (Gov Docs is an exception: their DVDs should remain in the jewel cases.)
Write call number on a yellow stickie and put on the case. The completed DVD goes into the media cabinet in Catalog Maintenance for labeling. If there is more than one DVD in the case, see below for labeling instructions.
Special Procedures
More than 1 disc in case
300 field: 2 videodiscs
866 field: disc 1-disc 2
Item record volume field: discs 1-2
Label: 1-2 [no need to include "discs" on label if numbers come immediately after the term VideoDVD]
Workstats: change number at end of workstats to number of discs in case
Note: We sometimes receive two discs in one case containing the same material in two different formats. A common example is a movie on Blu-ray disc which comes with a bonus DVD of the same movie. We will separate the two discs, repackaging as necessary, and catalog each format on its own record, adding appropriate notes and a 777 "Issued with" linking field to each record.
Booklet or other printed material in case
Cataloger has two choices:
1. Ignore it completely.
2. If it is unusual or very substantial, note it in five places:
a. 300 field |e subfield
b. 500 field "Accompanied by" note
c. 866 field: disc & booklet or discs 1-3 & guide [or other term]
d. item record: disc & booklet or discs 1-3 & guide [or other term]
e. label: write (2) booklet [or other term] on the yellow stickie or on a second stickie. The labeler will make a second label using whatever term you use.
PAL format and Region codes
American DVD players use NTSC format, but much of the world uses PAL format. The two are not compatible. Also, most American DVD players will only play Region 1 (North America) or all-region (sometimes called Region 0 or region-free) DVDs. Format and region information is often on the back of the DVD container or on the disc label. When we know that a DVD is PAL format or is Region 2-6, we will include that information in the call number and the 538 field.
050/090: PN1997 |b .S8 2010 PAL VideoDVD
PN1997 |b .S8 2010 Region 2 VideoDVD
PN1997 |b .S8 2010 Region 2 PAL VideoDVD
538: DVD (PAL format): Not compatible with American DVD players.
DVD (Region 2): Not compatible with American DVD players.
DVD (Region 2, PAL format): Not compatible with American DVD players.
Blu-ray discs
007 |e = s
call no.: Blu-ray VideoDVD
245 |h [videorecording (Blu-ray)]
500 Blu-ray disc release of the 2006 film.
538 Blu-ray disc: Not compatible with standard DVD players.
Examples in the catalog: Flyboys (.b72785081)
Tidal wave (.b73603065)
Laser discs
007 |e =g
call no.: Video (12 inch) disc
245 |h [videorecording]
300 |c 12 in.
538 Laserdisc.
Examples in the catalog: Big trouble in little China (.b48534262)
Adventures of Priscilla, queen of the desert (.b72745903)
Videocassettes
007 |b = f
|e =b (for VHS) or a (for Beta)
245 |h [videorecording]
050/090: Videocassette
yellow stickie: Video cass.
538 VHS (or Beta)
For a set containing more than one videocassette, use cass. in the 866 and the item volume field.
DVD-R and DVD+R formats
These are DVDs that have been recorded privately rather than professionally. They are treated as normal videoDVDs. If you know that you have a DVD-R or DVD+R format, give that information in the 538 field rather than simply saying DVD. The call number still says VideoDVD.
Government Documents: DVDs, CD-ROMS, & other non-print
All GovDocs non-print, whether primary or supplementary, is now sent to the DMC.
Location codes for GovDocs material will be "gd", not "dm", for both bibliographic and item records.
If the piece has an LC call number (International and Michigan docs), write DMC-GD for the location on the yellow stickie.
GovDocs VideoDVDs which come in jewel cases should NOT be put in videoDVD cases. For Gov Docs, both videoDVDs and CD-ROMs are stored in jewel cases.
Video performance rights
(from T.S. Managers, 5/21/08)
The following plan was agreed to and will be shared with Collections Management. Selectors should provide information about performance rights at the time of order. The information will be noted in the order record. The staff person handling receiving will place a streamer with the film, and the streamer will have a printed message with space to record the publisher: Purchased with performance rights from _______________
The cataloger will use the information from the streamer and place the information in the staff note field [f note] of the item record for the piece. The rights to use each copy of a film could be different so the most accurate place to have the rights information stated is the item record for the specific piece