Difference between revisions of "Electronic location and access"

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[[Category:Local practices]]
The 856 tag in a catalog record is called “Electronic Location and Access” and contains the information required to locate an electronic item, usually consisting of a URL (Uniform Resource Locator).  For complete standards on this tag see [http://www.oclc.org/bibformats/en/8xx/856.shtm OCLC Bibliographic Formats and Standards].
The 856 tag in a catalog record is called “Electronic Location and Access” and contains the information required to locate an electronic item, usually consisting of a URL (Uniform Resource Locator).  For complete standards on this tag see [http://www.oclc.org/bibformats/en/8xx/856.shtm OCLC Bibliographic Formats and Standards].



Revision as of 20:58, 1 February 2017


The 856 tag in a catalog record is called “Electronic Location and Access” and contains the information required to locate an electronic item, usually consisting of a URL (Uniform Resource Locator). For complete standards on this tag see OCLC Bibliographic Formats and Standards.

Add or retain URLs in non-electronic-resource that:

  • reproduce the cataloged work or the information in it
  • relate directly to the cataloged work
  • refer the user to additional information on the subject of the cataloged work

Be sure...

  • that the information is current and that the relationship between the material and the URL is direct (sample pages, publisher’s description, table of contents, etc.)
  • that the 856 contains at least a subfield u—what the URL checker (the automated application that checks the validity of a URL) must find.
  • that the text string is valid. Sometimes it is changed during downloading or storing of the record (a space is added or the line wrap causes a necessary part of the string to be dropped from the hyperlink.)
  • that the hyperlink does not send the user to commercial propaganda—virtually free advertising for the publisher or producer

DO...

  • make a judgment of the value of the URL to the user
  • see that the URL works
  • make sure the URL is in subfield u
  • double check that there are NO spaces in the string
  • learn what the 856 indicators mean
  • learn what the 856 subfields mean

DON'T...

  • allow a URL into a CCS record that does not give the end user added value
  • allow the publisher or production company to get free advertising at our expense
  • allow URLs that point to a page for the popular CD or movie—they are invariably short-lived
  • allow email addresses in 856 tags

URLs in records for electronic resources

Locally:

  • Delete URLs for cover images, excerpts, and tables of contents
  • Delete URLs for non-CCS libraries
  • Delete URLs for vendors no CCS library uses
  • Delete format-specific URLs in favor of adding a single URL for all formats
  • Retain URLs for vendors that other CCS libraries do use