Non-English Language Materials

When cataloging foreign language materials, we cannot use WorldCat records for which the language of cataloging is not English. If there is not an English language WorldCat record for the item in hand, create a parallel record for English.

OCLC has added a search qualifier of ll:eng to limit search results to records cataloged in English.

Add at least one Library of Congress subject heading as well as the appropriate subject headings for foreign language materials and foreign film subject headings.

You may, but are not required to add French subject headings to French-language material, Spanish subject headings to Spanish-language material, Polish subject headings to Polish-language material, etc.

How to recognize a foreign language record

Presence of a subfield b specifying the cataloging language.

Example:

040  ESUDE ‡b spa ‡c ESUDE

Please note that many English records now have a subfield b, eng.

Example:

040  ESUDE ‡b eng ‡c ESUDE

They may also include a subfield e for a different cataloging rule set.

Example:

040  BNM ‡e rdc ‡b spa ‡c BNM

The cataloging itself may be in a language other than English, use unfamiliar abbreviations, and include subject headings from a different thesaurus.

Some WorldCat records mistakenly omit 040 ‡b; when you come across one of those records, please report it to OCLC as an error and look for an English-language record.

Example:

040    UBP ‡b spa ‡c UBP ‡d PL# ‡d I5B
100    Fromm, Erich ‡d 1900-1980.
240 14 The dogma of Christ and other essays on religion, psychology, and culture. ‡p The present human condition ‡l Español
245 13 La condición humana actual : ‡b y otros temas de la vida contemporánea / ‡c Erich Fromm ; edición a cargo de Rainer 
       Funk ; traducción Gerardo Steenks.
246    Y otros temas de la vida contemporánea.
250    2a. ed.
500    Traducción de: The dogma of christ.
504    Incluye referencias bibliográficas. (or Incluye bibliografías.)
650  7 Psicología. ‡2 embne
700 1  Steenks, Gerardo, ǂe tr.