Moore Cataloging Procedures
500 Note (if necessary)
If the words "play" or "plays" is NOT part of the 245 (either $a or $b), there should be a 500 note:
500 _ _ $a Play.
or
500 _ _ $a Plays.
If no note exists and one is needed, please add this note.
Coding the 008 LitF (Literary Form)
Plays
For effective retrieval of particular forms of literature, it is important that the Literary Form (LitF) field of the 008 be coded correctly. Please do the following for books that are a play or a collection of plays.
If the book is a play or a collection of plays, please code 008 Literary Form as “d” for drama, as shown below.
If “play” is not part of the title of the book, there may be a subject heading with |v Drama. This form subdivision is defined to be used “for plays or musical dramatic works on … subjects.” You should also be able to tell if a book is a play by flipping through it.
It does not matter whether the play is a comedy or a serious drama—the coding “d” drama is used for both, the term “dramatic” meaning written to be performed on the stage.
