ISBD(NBM) - IFLA

5 PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION AREA
Introductory The materials described in ISBD(NBM) are products of a constantly changing
note technology. Adaptations to provide for technological change will continue to be required.
The following provisions describe items which are available in a single physical format. When alternative
formats are available (as in the case of a sound recording available on disc, cassette and cartridge), a
distinct physical description is provided for each material, each such description occupying a separate line.
For the treatment of alternative types of material occurring within one basic format, see 5.2.9 and 5.3.8.
For accompanying material available in alternative formats, see 5.4.3. Alternatively, the cataloguing
agency may choose to make separate bibliographic descriptions for alternative formats of an edition.
Contents 5.1 Specific material designation and extent
5.2 Other physical details
5.3 Dimensions
5.4 Accompanying material statement (optional)
Punctuation A. The physical description area is preceded by a point, space, dash, space (. – ).
pattern
B. The first statement regarding other physical details is preceded by a space, colon,
space ( : ).
C. The first dimensions statement is preceded by a space, semi-colon, space ( ; ).
D. Each accompanying material statement is preceded by a space, plus sign, space ( + ).
Example
. – Specific material designation and extent : other physical details ; dimensions +
accompanying material statement
5.1 Specific material designation and extent
5.1.1 The first element of the physical description area names and numbers the physical unit or
units constituting the item, adding other measures of extent as appropriate. The specific material
designation identifies the particular class of material to which the item belongs and is given in the
language of the bibliographic agency. A selective list of specific material designations recommended for
use in English appears in Appendix C.
5.1.2 The number of physical units constituting the item is given in arabic numerals before the
specific material designation.
e.g.
. – 1 sound disc
. – 36 slides
. – 3 stereograph reels
5.1.3 A trade name or other indication of a particular technical system is recorded in
parentheses after the specific material designation when the use of the item is conditional upon this
information.
e.g.
. – 1 sound cassette (Elcaset)
. – 1 videocassette (U-matic)
. – 1 videoreel (Ampex 7003)
. – 1 sound disc (Cook binaural)
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