Bibliographic Processing Cataloging Rules
Introduction | Fixed Fields | Call Number and Item | 010 | 020 | 041 | 245 | 246 | 250 | 260 | 264 | 300 | 336 | 337 | 338 | 340 | 4XX/8XX Series | 5XX | Choice of Entry | X00 | X10 | 740 || Monographs Team Documentation | Record Creation | BPCR Home
"Media type" refers to the general type of device required to view, run, play, or otherwise access the item. For example, an electronic resource would have media type “computer,” a music CD would be “audio,” and a movie on DVD would be “ video.” Text-based materials will be described as “unmediated.”
See the Term and Code List for RDA Media Types for a list of valid terms that may be used.
The entire item may be considered the source.
The indicators are undefined and should remain blank.
Subfield Codes:
|a Media type term (R)
|b Media type code (R)
|2 Source of code (NR)
|3 Materials specified (NR)
Add a 337 to RDA copy when absent. Add terms to existing 337 fields when not present in RDA copy. Accept codes in copy, but do not add them when missing.
When adding a 337, transcribe only the term as given in an approved list and enter it in lowercase. Do not invent terms or codes.
Prefer terms from approved lists. When in doubt, choose a more general term. Multiple terms from the same source may be repeated in the same field in multiple |a subfields. Terms from different source vocabularies should be in separate 337 fields. Do not capitalize the first word of the terms.
337 unmediated|2rdamedia
337 computer|2rdamedia
337 video|2rdamedia
337 projected|2rdamedia
The Media type code is the coded form of the term expressed in subfield |a. The coded data may seem less helpful than the term itself, but codes are more computer-friendly and potentially more useful for online catalogs. Do not add the code when absent from copy, but do not delete a code when already present in copy.
337 unmediated|bn|2rdamedia
337 computer|bc|2rdamedia
Subfield |2 contains the source of either the term or code appearing in subfield |a or |b. Codes for likely sources may be found on the Genre/Form Code and Term Source Codes page.
The most common source will likely be for the Library of Congress list Term and Code List for RDA Media Types, represented by |2rdamedia. Do not repeat the source within a single 337. Group all terms from a single source in one 337, with one subfield |2. When multiple sources are used, multiple 337 fields are required.
337 unmediated|bn|2rdamedia
When applicable, use subfield |3 to briefly describe specific pieces of an item. For example, a book may come with an audio CD, or an atlas may have a computer file in a pocket.
A map with a textual guide on the same record:
337 |3text|aunmediated|bn|2rdamedia
337 |3guide|acomputer|bc|2rdamedia
