MIT Libraries Cataloging Oasis

Varying Form of Title: the 246 Field

[Cheat Sheet]


• Use for varying form of title(s) for the whole item whether or not the title is found on the item. It is also used as an added entry for a portion of the title proper entered in 245.
• Use separate 246 for each varying form of title.
• Generally, when 246 is used, no 500 note is needed.
• Do not enter initial articles.
• Do not add punctuation at the end of the field unless the title ends with an abbreviation.
• For 246 1_ , |i follows with a colon (:) and comes before |a. Text in |i is designed to explain what kind of title is in |a when other 246s’ 2nd indicators are inadequate to specify the source of title, like these situations:

1. At head of title
2. Colophon title
3. Panel title
4. Title on container
5. Also known as
6. Publisher’s catalog title

• For multiple 246s, enter them in the order of 3_, 30, 31, 1_, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18.
• All 246s regardless of indicators are keyword searchable. In ALEPH they are indexed in WEE (Keyword search of everything not indexed by WRD), WIT (Acq + all title keyword), WRD (Keyword index of all indexed fields), and WTI (Title keyword).
• All 246s regardless of indicators, displayed or not, are retrievable in Barton OPAC when doing browse for Keyword Anywhere (ALL) or Title Words Search (TTL).
• For a more in depth guideline about when and how to enter 246 field, refer to:

1. OCLC Bibliographic Format and Standard—246 Varying Form of Title
http://www.oclc.org/bibformats/en/2xx/246.shtm
2. Library of Congress MARC 21 Format for Bibliographic Data — 246 Varying Form of Title
http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/ecbdtils.html
3. Anglo-American Cataloging Rules, 2nd ed. (2002 revision with 2005 update).
4. AACR2 Rule Interpretation.

Types of 246

Indicators

Form of Note

OPAC

Added title page title

15

  Added title
Alternative title
30
  <Not Displayed>
Alternative form of word(s) in title
30
  <Not Displayed>
At head of title
1-
|i At head of title: |a
Title Note
Binder's title
1-
|a Binder's title: |a
Title Note
Caption title
16
  Caption Title
Colophon title
1-
|i Colophon title: |a
Title Note
Corrected form of title (sic or i.e. in 245)
3-
  Title Note
Cover title
14
  Cover Title
Half title
1-
|i Half title: |a
Title Note
Incorrect form of title ([ ] used in 245
3-
  Title Note
Multi-volume variant title
1-
|i [Volume 2 has title] : |a
Title Note
Note, with title added entry
1-
|i [First line of song] : |a
Title Note
Note, with no title added entry
1-
|i [Subtitle on container] :|a
Title Note
Other title (245 |b)

13

  Other Title
Parallel title from 245

31

  <Not Displayed>
Part title access from 245 |p

30

  <Not Displayed>
Portion of title proper from 245

30

  <Not Displayed>
Running title

17

  Running Title
Spelled out forms of symbols in 245 |a

3-

  Title Note
Spine title
18
  Spine Title
Subtitle access from 245 |b
30
  <Not Displayed>
Title on container
1-
|i Title on container: |a Title Note
Other title information, not from 245
1
|i Introductory phrase: |a Title Note
Other condition when added entry is needed
1-
|a [....] : |a Title Note

 


Please send us your comments!

Back to the MIT Cataloging Procedures & Policies page.

Drafted by Mary Jeanne Yuen 060828; posted by Gordon Thomas on 061206.