Guide to Cataloging DVDs
Using AACR2r Chapters 7 and 9
Created by the DVD Cataloging Task Force
Cataloging Policy Committee
Online Audiovisual Catalogers, Inc.
Cataloging Policy Committee
Online Audiovisual Catalogers, Inc.
Jump to: Table of Contents | Introduction | DVD Videos | DVD-ROMs | Resources
II. Cataloging DVD Videos — AACR2r Chapter 7
by Nancy Olson
This section addresses cataloging commercially available DVDs containing film material and television programs, and is cataloged by rules found in AACR2r chapter 7 for motion pictures and videorecordings.
Chief source of information
DVDs should always be cataloged from the title screen(s). Information for notes and areas other than title is often taken from the container.General comments on DVDs
Most commercially available DVDs contain movies or television programs. Many of these DVDs also contain additional features such as additional language tracks, interviews with participants in the original production, outtakes from the original filming, etc. Some, however, contain nothing additional, not even closed-captioning.Cataloging a DVD is no different from cataloging any other manifestation of a film or video throughout most of the bibliographic record. There are, however, some special features that must be accounted for, and these will be addressed throughout this section of the document. The special features mentioned in the notes area are those that seem most important, and are mentioned in articles about DVDs and reviews of individual DVD titles.
While most DVDs are one sided, they can be two-sided, with, for example, one side containing the standard version of the film, the other side containing the widescreen version. There is no need to mention the number of sides in the physical description area, though a note should be included for two-sided discs, stating what is on each side.
500 Standard version on one side, widescreen version on
other side.
[AACR2r 7.7B10k, physical description note]
[Note: Examples in this section of the document all carry AACR2r rule number for correct order within bibliographic record.]
Some DVDs are multiple-disc sets. These additional discs often contain a sequel or sequels to the movie on the first disc, or additional episodes in the same television series. For instance, if the first disc has the movie “Toy Story,” the second disc has the movie “Toy Story 2.”
505 0 Disc 1. Toy story -- disc 2. Toy story 2.
[AACR2r 7.7B18, contents note]
The statement “Interactive menu” found on some containers does not mean a computer is needed to run the item — it simply means a menu comes up from which the user makes choices as to what version is to be run, in what language, etc. It is similar to what one does when choosing channels and making other choices using the remote “clicker” for a television set.
There is a great deal of information on the containers of most DVDs. It is advisable for catalogers to use information exactly as stated on the item, and to include it in the bibliographic record they are creating if
- it looks important, and/or
- one isn’t sure what to do with it.
Caution: Before beginning to catalog DVDs, obtain a good hand-held magnifying glass. Much valuable information on the containers is in print or symbols too tiny to be read — some of it is printed over busy backgrounds making it even harder to read.
Enhanced DVDs
A few DVDs contain additional material needing the use of a computer. Each of these carries a statement similar to that found on the Sound of Music:A DVD-ROM drive on a PC with Windows 95 or higher is necessary to operate the enhanced features of these discs. Some of these enhanced DVD features will not work on a Mac. These discs will not work in a CD-ROM drive.In these DVDs, the predominant component of the DVD is the film itself. These enhanced DVDs should be treated in the same manner as enhanced CDs, where one or two tracks of a CD contain computer-required information. Therefore one should catalog enhanced DVDs as videos. Four examples of enhanced DVDs with features requiring a computer are:
- Sound of Music — 2 computer games, links to fan sites
- Perfect Storm — links to online documentaries and chat rooms
- Chicken Run — 2 games, desktop icons and pets, calculator, screensavers, poster sets
- The Abyss — 3 games
538 Enhanced DVD.
500 Includes 2 computer games, links to fan sites.
[AACR2r 7.7B10f, physical description,
videorecording system]
538 System requirements for DVD-ROM features: Computer
capable of playing DVD movies; Windows 95 or higher.
Will not work in a CD-ROM drive or on a Macintosh.
[AACR2r 9.7B1b, system requirements]
Bibliographic records for enhanced DVDs should be cataloged on type “g” workforms, with the GMD “[videorecording]” and both MARC 21 fields 006 and 007 for the computer characteristics of the enhanced features, as well as the normal video 007.
Information we may ignore
Information that may be ignored because it is standard on all DVDs:- Interactive menu,
- Scene access,
- Scene selection.
- Advertisements,
- Previews of other titles.
Editions and series
Many film titles are/have been available in multiple formats (film, Beta, VHS, laser disc, DVD) as well as multiple versions/releases within a format. Numerous titles have been released on DVD then followed (sometimes within the month) with another DVD release that is changed somewhat from the first release. The later release may contain supplementary material that wasn’t on the first release, and/or additional language sound tracks, or be in widescreen where the first release was in the standard format. It may carry a banner across the container “Special Edition” or be otherwise identified. Be careful to distinguish between edition statements related to the item in hand, and series statements relating to the item being part of a publisher’s collection.These statements that distinguish one manifestation from another should be treated as edition statements, whether they carry the word “edition” or not — just as in AACR2r chapter 9, where anything indicating the item in hand is different from the same title previously issued should be considered an edition statement.
Examples of edition statements (which would go into a 250 field) include:
- Special edition
- Deluxe widescreen presentation
- Widescreen version
- Standard version
- Special 007 edition
- Widescreen
- Anamorphic widescreen
- 20th anniversary
- Collector’s edition
- Collector’s edition, widescreen
- Letterbox format
- Five star collection
- James Bond collection
- Star trek next generation movie collection
- New line platinum series
Dates
- Type of date code in fixed field
- Dates in field 260
- Dates in notes
If a DVD (or videocassette) contains exactly the same material as the original motion picture from which it was copied, and nothing has been added or changed, the MARC 21 fixed field 008, byte 6, (OCLC Date type), is to be coded “p” because the content is identical to that of the original work, but the medium is different (from film to video).
Date type “r” is used only when something is reissued in the same medium with no change in content, so this would not apply to any DVD (or VHS) made from a motion picture or television program, whether or not the content had changed.
If there is a change in content, then the item is to be treated as a new work, and MARC 21 fixed field 008, byte 6, is coded “s”. This change in content may include anything from the addition of closed-captioning, to the addition of the many special features that are typically found on a DVD.
Be aware that not all DVDs will automatically be coded as new works, because there are some items where absolutely nothing has been added to the original content.
Some DVDs have a copyright date on the printed disc surface that represents the date the item was published; this date would be recorded in MARC 21 field 260, just as found (with the copyright symbol).
If there is no copyright date on the disc surface, look for the latest date of those that may be printed on the back of the container [copyright date for cover design, etc.], and use this latest date as the assumed date of publication. Record this date in brackets and without the copyright symbol because it is an assumed date. Copyright renewal dates are ignored according to LCRI 1.4F6 (CSB 92).
Dates for the original production as a motion picture, or on television, or as a videorecording, are given in the history note.
Physical Description Area
The recent revision of AACR2r chapter 9 includes the provision to use the term “DVD” in the extent of item area for chapter 9. This does not apply to chapter 7. The term “videodisc” is used in MARC 21 field 300, “[videorecording]” is used as the GMD, and field 538 is used for the term “DVD” along with whatever other information on system requirements may be needed for the bibliographic description being created.MARC 21 field 300 would be as follows:
300 1 videodisc (66 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in. +
$e 1 booklet ([10] p. : col. ill. ; 20 cm.)
Notes used with the above example would include:
538 DVD.
500 Booklet (6 p.) includes list of chapters, brief essay
"The hatching of Chicken run."
[AACR2r 7.7B11, accompanying material note]
Time
The time given in subfield “a” of MARC 21 field 300 should be the time of the title recorded in field 245, and this is also the time recorded in the appropriate fixed field. Times of supplementary material and/or special features may be given in the notes relating to that material or those features, but Areas 1-6 of the bibliographic record refer to the title being cataloged, not to the special material.Notes
- Combining notes
- Languages
- Captions/subtitles and closed-captioning
- Chart of information on container
- Language notes
- System requirements note
- Regions of the world
- Edition and history note
- Sound note
- Layers
- Aspect ratio
- Other information
- Audience/rating note
- Awards note
- Summary note
- Informal contents note
We may combine into one note information that would otherwise appear in two or more short notes as is permitted in AACR2r 1.7A5. Examples are shown in some of the following sections.
DVDs may have only the sound track from the original film, or closed-captioning, one or more additional sound tracks and/or subtitles in one or more languages may have been added. Some DVDs have a little chart showing the languages included, whether there are captions in that language, and what type of sound is available for each language. Languages are named in MARC 21 field 546, and coded into field 041.
Subtitles (or captions) only contain the dialog, or phrases summarizing the dialog. Closed-captioning includes dialog in addition to musical note symbols when there is music, words to songs, and words or phrases about background music or what is going on in the movie. Some DVDs (for example, Chicken Run) include the complete text of the script for those who want to read along. On some DVDs, a screen displays the following message, or something similar. The user clicks on the choice desired.
Captioned subtitlesOther DVDs allow you to choose either “Language” and/or “Captions” from a menu. In either case, language notes are needed.
-----------
Captioned for the hearing impaired
-----------
English
Español
Français
When the container shows one of the closed-captioning symbols, the DVD is closed-captioned. This closed-captioning may also be used as the English subtitles mentioned elsewhere on the container, though some DVDs (e.g., The Mask) might utilize subtitles by one closed-captioning firm (Caption, Inc.) and closed-captions by another closed-captioning firm (NCI). The note about captioning (“Closed-captioned”) was changed to this form in the 1998 AACR2r.
One could also indicate in their bibliographic records not only the presence of closed-captioning, but also which items on the DVD carry this closed-captioning.
The container may say “Español” and “Français,” but we record “Spanish” and “French” in the note. One should, however, use foreign words if transcribing foreign language information into Area 1 of the physical description.
Some publishers use a chart for language, sound, and other information on the back of the container. The top row of the chart, that lists languages, is not a list of the languages on the soundtracks, but is a header/label for the chart, as is the left-hand column of information.
Sound information appearing under the label for a language indicates that language is present on a soundtrack. Different kinds of sound may be used for different languages.
A third row of the chart indicates the presence of subtitles/captions under the appropriate language headers.
These charts need to be checked against the menu on the DVD to be absolutely sure what is present. The chart can be confusing.
Suggested language notes include:
546 In English with optional subtitles in English
and Spanish (feature film only).
546 Sound tracks for the feature film in English,
Spanish, and French, with optional subtitles
in each language.
546 Closed-captioned. In English with optional
subtitles in English and Spanish (feature
film only).
(Comment: In this example, the captioning information
is combined with other language information.)
[AACR2r 7.7B2, language]
The MARC 21 field for system requirements, field 538, is used for the name of the format and any additional physical information that might control the user’s choice of playback equipment, following AACR2r 7.7B10. Equipment needed for the computer portion of enhanced DVDs is included in a note borrowed from AACR2r chapter 9, either as part of the DVD 538 or as an additional 538.
538 Enhanced DVD; for the 3 games a DVD-ROM drive
with Windows 95 or higher is required. Will not
work on a Mac or in a CD-ROM drive.
[AACR2r 7.7B10f, videorecording system,
combined with 9.7B1b]
538 System requirements for DVD-ROM features:
Computer capable of playing DVD movies; Microsoft
Windows 95 or higher. Will not work in a CD-ROM
drive or on a Macintosh.
[AACR2r 9.7B1b]
Because of the importance of this system requirements information, we may move this note into the first-note position.
The world is divided into 5 regions for DVD technology; each region produces players that will only play DVDs designed for that region. For example, a small symbol of a globe with a superimposed number 1 on the container of a DVD tells the user that this DVD will work in a player produced for region 1 (i.e., North America). Catalogers can ignore this symbol when creating bibliographic records if their library only collects DVDs coded for one particular region.
However, some libraries collect material, including videos, from other parts of the world so would collect DVDs not produced for the region in which the library is located. If one does catalog a DVD that is not formatted for their region, a note in the bibliographic record is needed. This information should be recorded in MARC 21 field 538, as it relates to the equipment required to use the item being cataloged and is a type of system requirements note.
538 Produced for region 4 (Central and South
America); user must have a DVD player that
will play region 4 DVDs.
[AACR2r 9.7B1b, system requirements]
The history note is very important when cataloging film. For any title originally made as a film, or as a television program, or based on a television series, or related to other material, this note must be made.
500 Originally produced as motion picture in 1989.
500 Produced for television in 1969.
500 Originally released as a motion picture in 1952.
500 Based on television series that ran from 1970-
1974.
[AACR2r 7.7B7, edition and history]
Information relating to the sound content can often be found on the container. When the information explains some term or terms used on containers, it isn’t necessary to mention this in a note. It might be worth jotting in a local policy notebook, however, for future reference. For example:
“Dolby digital soundtracks contain up to 5.1 channels of discrete audio. Dolby surround soundtracks contain up to 4 channels of encoded audio. Playback from 2-channel DVD outputs is compatible with stereo and Dolby ProLogic.”In AACR2r chapter 7, there is a rule (7.7B10a) to record the words “stereo.” and “mono.” if either of those words is present.
500 Mono. sound.
(Comment: No additional languages,
captions, or sound on this DVD.)
500 Dolby digital 5.1 sound, stereo.
(Comment: This one was only in English.)
[AACR2r 7.7B10a, sound characteristics]
If a DVD includes multiple sound tracks that utilize the same language, one can create a note based on the following example:
546 Soundtracks: English (Dolby digital 5.1
surround sound); English (Dolby surround
sound); French (Dolby surround sound).
Sound information may be combined with language information as follows:
546 Closed-captioned. Sound tracks in English,
Spanish, and French, with optional subtitles
in each language (feature film only).
546 Soundtracks: English (stereo.), French (mono.).
546 Soundtracks in English, French, and Spanish.
[AACR2r 7.7B2, language, and
7.7B10a, sound characteristics]
Sound and language information may be combined with system requirements.
538 DVD; Dolby surround sound for English sound track.
538 DVD; one English sound track with original mono.,
the other with Dolby surround 5.1 sound.
[AACR2r 7.7B10f, videorecording system; 7.7B2,
language; 7.7B10a, sound characteristics]
There may also be a sound track with just music — no dialog.
Some containers indicate “Single layer” and some “Dual layer” or “Dual-layer format” with a warning that “Layer transition may trigger a slight pause.” One should include this information only if appears on the item. When creating a note, it is preferable to retain the wording as it appears on the item.
500 Dual-layer format.
500 Dual layer
500 Single layer.
[AACR2r 7.7B10k, physical description, other]
There are many ways in which movie images are reproduced for use on a television screen. Widescreen movies may be reproduced as they were originally shown by including a black bar across the top and bottom of the screen (letterbox format), but the film image is reproduced completely. This information about aspect ratio is included in most reviews of DVDs, so it is considered important enough to mention in a note.
There seem to be many different aspect ratios; the ratio is not always given, but when it is, make a note.
500 Aspect ratio 2.35:1
500 Aspect ratio 1.85:1
500 Aspect ratio 1.77:1; "enhanced for 16 x 9
television."
500 Aspect ratio 1.78:1
Widescreen movies may also be reproduced using the pan-and-scan technique in which only parts of each frame of film are shown. This pan-and-scan technique should be mentioned in the bibliographic record.
500 Original film in widescreen; reproduced using
pan-and-scan technique.
If the aspect ratio is given as 1.33:1, and the container also says “Standard full frame — Formatted from the original version to fit your screen” one can record the information as follows:
500 Aspect ratio 1.33:1. Formatted from the original
version to fit the television screen.
One might also combine aspect ratio and dual layer information.
500 Dual-layer format; aspect ratio 2.35:1.
It should also be noted that aspect ratio information might appear in the edition area if identified as such:
250 Pan and scan edition.
[All these notes AACR2r 7.7B10f,
physical description, other]
Some phrases or words appear on the container and/or title screens and look important but don’t seem to fit anywhere. Transcribe them as found, in quotation marks.
500 "THX digitally remastered."
500 "Lucasfilm system."
[AACR2r 7.7B10k, physical description, other]
Audience information is to be given only if found on the item. However, when someone does cataloging for a school library with the training and background to make the judgment as to what ages or grades a title would be suitable for, this information may be very useful to patrons of that library. The note could be in quotes if the information appears on the item, or be followed by the name or initials of the person determining the audience level when that is done.
Ratings information should be given when found on the item. There are many kinds of ratings; the most common in this country is the MPAA rating.
521 8 MPAA rating: PG.
[AACR2r 7.7B14, audience]
If a film has won a major Academy Award, name the specific award and the year in which it was awarded, if the information is readily available. If the container says the film won such an award but doesn’t give any other information, and one is contributing original cataloging to a shared database such as OCLC, one might want to check this information in a reputable resource such as the Internet Movie Database.
One shouldn’t bother making a note for those titles nominated for an award but not receiving it, unless one is cataloging for an institution or community with a strong interest in film study.
586 Academy Award, best film, 1974.
Summaries are to be brief, without any judgmental terms. They do not need to be written in complete sentences. One may begin by using information appearing on the package, and then editing it as needed to remove judgmental adjectives, or other superfluous words. If a summary is used exactly as found on the package, it should be enclosed in quotation marks, with the source cited.
Information about special features and/or additional material included on a DVD in addition to the feature film or main item is listed in an informal contents note.
500 Special features include outtake musical
numbers, newsreel excerpts, theatrical
trailers, and cast interviews.
500 Includes 1992 documentary on the making of the
film (50 min.) hosted by Angela Lansbury.
500 Includes original theatrical version, and
special version with 28 minutes of additional
footage.
500 Includes director/producer biographies, cast
filmographies, photo gallery, and music video.
500 Includes both widescreen and standard versions.
[AACR2r 7.7B18, contents]
028
Most DVDs have a manufacturer’s number on the spine of the container. This number goes in MARC 21 field 028, following the directions for that field.Other codes
Specific codes for DVDs are being developed for use in some of the MARC 21 fields. Watch for announcements on OCLC and elsewhere as to the dates of implementation of these codes.MARC 21 field 007, byte 4, will have a new value of “v” for DVD. This was approved during the ALA 2001 annual conference. The value “g” will be renamed to Laserdisc.
MARC 21 field 041 for language codes is about to change from a maximum of six codes run together into one subfield, to separate subfields for the language codes needed.
DVD Video Cataloging Example
Type: g ELvl: I Srce: d Audn: Ctrl: Lang: eng
BLvl: m Form: GPub: Time: 101 MRec: Ctry: xxu
Desc: a TMat: v Tech: l DtSt: s Dates: 1997,
040 XXX $c XXX
007 v $b d $d c $e v $f a $g i $h z $i k
020 0790729970
024 1 794043401121
028 40 N4011 $b New Line Home Video
041 1 eng $a fre $h eng $b spa
090
245 04 The mask $h [videorecording] : $b from zero to hero /
$c New Line Productions ; Dark Horse Entertainment ;
produced by Bob Engelman ; directed by Charles Russell.
260 [United States] : $b New Line Home Video, $c c1997.
300 1 videodisc (101 min.) : $b sd., col. ; $c 4 3/4 in.
440 0 New line platinum series
538 DVD.
546 Closed-captioned (feature film only). Sound tracks in
English (Dolby surround sound 5.1) and French (stereo
sound); subtitles in English, French, and Spanish.
500 Originally produced in 1995 as motion picture.
511 1 Jim Carrey, Peter Riegert, Peter Green, Amy Yasbeck,
Richard Jeni, Cameron Diaz.
508 Story by Michael Fallon and Mark Verheiden ; screenplay
by Mike Webb ; music by Randy Edelman ; special visual
effects and animation by Industrial Light & Magic.
500 Standard version "formatted from its original version
to fit your screen" on one side of DVD; widescreen
version “presented in a letterbox widescreen format"
at 1.85:1 aspect ratio on other side of DVD.
521 8 MPAA rating: PG-13.
520 A mild-mannered bank clerk (Carrey) and his dog Milo
discover a mysterious ancient mask that brings one's
innermost desires to life.
500 Additional features include director’s commentary,
collection of deleted scenes, original theatrical trailer,
background information on the stars.
655 7 Feature films $2 lcsh
655 7 Comedy films $2 lcsh
655 7 Video recordings for the hearing impaired $2 lcsh
650 0 Heroes $v Drama.
650 0 Hoodlums $v Drama.
700 1 Engelman, Bob
700 1 Russell, Chuck, $d 1952-
700 1 Fallon, Michael, $d 1955-
700 1 Verheiden, Mark
700 1 Carrey, Jim, $d 1962-
700 1 Riegert, Peter
700 1 Green, Peter
700 1 Yasbeck, Amy
700 1 Jeni, Richard
700 1 Diaz, Cameron
710 2 New Line Productions.
710 2 Dark Horse Entertainment.
710 2 Industrial Light & Magic.
710 2 New Line Home Video.
730 0 Mask (Motion picture : 1994)
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