Information:
The Summary Note (520 tag) of the MARC 21
bibliographic record contains an unformatted note
that describes the scope and general contents of a
book or library holding. This could be a summary,
abstract, annotation, review, or only a phrase
describing the material. Title and subject headings
are often not descriptive enough for the library
searcher to determine if they want to read or
consult the title. The Summary Note can provide a
description of the plot, give the names of
characters, or mention that photographs are
present. It can also point out special features of
the item, describe the way in which information is
presented, provide a more detailed list of topics
covered, or tell the user about a topic for which
adequate subject headings have not been
established.
The 520 tag is keyword searchable, so it can aid in
a more profitable search. The Summary Note may
mention an alternate term or a more common term
than the established subject heading. For instance,
when "Inuit" is used as the subject heading,
"Eskimos" might be used in the Summary Note. A
Summary Note can list more specific topics. For a
book that receives the subject heading "Animals,"
the Summary Note might list some of the animals
described in the holding.
AACR2 governs the construction of the Summary Note
with rule X.7B17. The X represents the particular
chapter number depending on what type of media the
librarian is cataloging. For book materials it
would be rule 2.7B17 in chapter two and for
projected graphics it would be 8.7B17 in chapter
eight.
RDA guideline 7.10.1.3 instructs to provide a summary
if this information is considered important for identification
or selection especially for audiovisual resources and for
resources used by persons with disabilities.
Usually, the 520 tag uses one subfield, subfield a.
The MARC format also makes provisions for subfield
b, Expansion of summary note. The individual
subfields are not repeatable. The MARC format
provides for a display constant that would label
the Summary Note as "Subject" or "Review," etc.
Adding the summary notes to the bibliographic
record will make many items in the library more
accessible to the library users through keyword
searching.
Indicators
First Display constant controller
blank Summary
0 Subject
1 Review
2 Scope and content
3 Abstract
4 Content advice
8 No display constant generated
Second Undefined
blank Undefined
Subfields
a Summary, etc. note (NR)
b Expansion of summary note (NR)
c Assigning source (NR)
u Uniform Resource Identifier (R)
2 Source (NR)
3 Materials specified (NR)
Punctuation
This field ends with a period unless another mark
of punctuation (!, ?, -) is present.
Examples:
520 _aContains 800 short articles on individuals,
organizations, events, and court cases focusing
on the period since emancipation.
520 8 _aA guide to aircraft used by the American Air Force
during this century. Entries are arranged alphabetically
by manufacturer. Includes over 1,000 photographs,
diagrams, and plans.
520 0 _aTwo head-and-shoulder portraits in separate ornamental
oval frames, one frame held by eagle.
520 _aA research tool designed for students of all ages,
including maps, charts, audio sound clips, dictionaries,
and other useful information. Works in a virtual workspace
mode so that the user can access multiple pieces of
data simultaneously.
520 1 _a"Aronson's film is a wonderfully sympathetic, chronological
record of Ginsberg's life and career as a poet,
counterculture yoeman, and "cosmic social worker."
Along the way, aging subterranean friends bear fond
witness to Ginsberg's literary power and moral courage.
However, it is Ginsberg himself who is ultimately the most
eloquent and insightful commentator on his life
and times" - American Libraries, July/August, 1995.
520 _a"An explanation of how the Appaloosa horse was brought
to the Sahaptin Indians by a young warrior who
traveled into Apache country"--Library Journal.
520 _aDescribes the life and customs of the Inuit people, also
known as Eskimo, answering many questions about them.
The following is an example where the Summary Note
is repeated because there is more than one film
included on the videotape:
520 _aIn "Pepe le Moko" a famous gangster is safe from
the police while hiding in the Casbah section of Algiers,
but he falls in love and follows the lady into danger.
520 _aIn "Shoot the piano player" Charlie is a timid cafe pianist
who has given up his former life as a concert
pianist, a career which had destroyed his marriage.
The Summary Note is also repeated where a library
finds it useful to include summaries in several
languages.
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