Material Type Codes

Bibliographic material types

a printed material non-periodical monograph, monographic series, or serial publication in print form. Examples: printed monographs, annual publications such as yearbooks, annual directories and reports. Not including Large Type books or Graphic Novels.
b periodical Printed, electronic, or online publication that is issued more frequently than once a year and at regular intervals with each issue containing articles by several contributors. Examples: magazines, newspapers, newsletters, online continuing resources.
c music scores printed and manuscript, vocal and instrumental.
d empty  
e maps printed maps, including atlases.
f ms map unpublished, hand drawn maps. Usually in archival collection.
g Blu-ray videorecording disc requiring a Blu-Ray format player.
h graphic novels “Printed book format that is a blend of text and illustrations, has a beginning and end, and uses visual images with or without text to tell a story. May be fiction OR nonfiction. (Collections of comic strips and monthly or other regularly published serialized comics are NOT graphic novels. Use material type “a” for these.)”
j Blu-Ray/DVD Combo DVD and Blu-ray digital videodiscs packaged together and circulating as one item.
k graphic material Non-cartographic graphic materials to include art originals, art reproductions and prints, charts, flip charts, wall charts, flash cards, printed photographs, pictures, postcards, radiographs (X-rays), study prints, technical drawings, posters, film, filmstrips, slides. Do not use for graphic novels.
l large print printed books with larger size type for ease of reading for visually impaired.
m streaming video the transfer of data (as video material) in a continuous stream, especially for immediate playback
v spoken Mp3-CD Mp3 format nonmusical sound recording on a disc requiring a Mp3 format player.
o kit an item comprised of 3 or more categories of materials, none of which is identifiable as the predominant constituent of the item. Further, a multipart item is defined as a kit when either none of the parts, or 3 or more parts, can be used independently.
p archival material items (usually unpublished) collected for historical purposes such as diaries, correspondence, albums, scrapbooks, clippings, records, ledgers, manuscripts, typescripts, etc.
q equipment library- owned hardware that may or may not circulate, such as headphones, ereaders, laptops, projectors, screens, dvd players, etc. Noncirculating equipment should have initials “n” (suppressed).
r 3D object 3-dimensional material such as models, dioramas, games, puzzles, sculpture, machines, clothing/costumes, toys, puppets, exhibits. Also includes realia and naturally occurring objects such as rocks, minerals, leaves, seeds, shells, mounted microscopic specimens, bones, skeletons, etc.
s playaway preloaded digital audiobook, stored in electronic format in self-contained sound media player device.
t 4K 4K format video disc
u e-audiobook downloadable or streaming spoken word recorded book in electronic format such as Mp3, WMA, Mp4, etc.
w microform miniature reproduction of printed or other graphic material which cannot be utilized without magnification. Material preserved on microfilm, microfiche, etc.
x ebook non-periodical monograph, monographic series, or serial publication in electronic format e-pub, pdf, etc. May be downloaded onto an “ereader” device such as Kindle, Nook, etc. Includes electronic format Large Print and Graphic Novels.
y web resource “Integrating resource accessed remotely via a network, such as webpages, search engines, blogs, databases, online discussion group (“listserv”), OPACs. Also, newsletters, .pdf documents, wikis, online maps.”
z software electronically stored application, including CD-ROMs, designed for use in a computer, game console, or other electronic device.
1 music CD compact disc digital format musical sound recording.
2 music cass audio cassette tape format musical sound recording.
3 spoken CD compact disc digital format nonmusical sound recording.
4 spoken cass audio cassette tape format nonmusical sound recording.
5 dvd DVD digital video disc.
6 vhs videotape cassette.
7 phonodisc a revolving disc or cylinder with a spiral groove carrying recorded sound that is reproduced by means of the vibration of a stylus or needle. Use this for vinyl LPs, “45s” etc.
8 Braille reading material for the blind, using the system of writing with characters made up of raised dots.

Approved by Minerva Executive Board 1/26/2011
Revision June 14, 2014
Updated March 23, 2016
Updated March 8, 2018