Library of Congress >> MARC >> Holdings >> 88X  >> 884

884 - Description Conversion Information (R)


MARC 21 Holdings - full
December 2025

First Indicator Second Indicator
Undefined
# - Undefined

Undefined
# - Undefined


Subfield Codes
  • $a - Conversion process (NR)
  • $g - Conversion date/time (NR)
  • $k - Identifier of source metadata (NR)
  • $q - Conversion agency (NR)
  • $u - Uniform Resource Identifier (R)

FIELD DEFINITION AND SCOPE

Used to provide information about the origin of a MARC record which has been converted by machine from another metadata structure.


GUIDELINES FOR APPLYING CONTENT DESIGNATORS

INDICATORS

SUBFIELD CODES

$a - Conversion process

Identifies the process used to produce the data contained in the MARC record. The subfield may contain a process name or some other description.

$g - Conversion date/time

Date/time on which the data was converted. Date/time information is recorded in accordance with ISO 8601, Representation of Dates and Times. When this subfield is used, the date is mandatory. Time may also be included. The ISO 8601:2019 Extended format is preferred: yyyy-mm-ddThh:mm:ss.

$k - Identifier of source metadata

Identifier associated with the description from which the data was obtained.

$q - Conversion agency

MARC organization code of the institution using the process/activity to convert the data.

Code from: MARC Code List for Organizations.

$u - Uniform Resource Identifier

Uniform Resource Identifier (URI), for example a URL or URN, which identifies the process used to convert the data contained in the MARC record. The URI can lead to a textual or structured description of the process, or the URL that was used to generate the record’s content can be provided directly, i.e., a URL invoking a web service or conveying an API call.


CONTENT DESIGNATOR HISTORY

Field 884 - Description Conversion Information [NEW, 2015]

$g - Conversion date [RENAMED, 2025] [REDESCRIBED, 2025]

Subfield was renamed and the definition broadened to allow for the recording of time information.


Library of Congress >> MARC >> Holdings >> 88X  >> 884
(12/17/2025)
Contact Us