Bookrecord

Bookrecord is a term used in library science and bibliographic databases to refer to a structured data record that describes a single book or edition. It functions as a bibliographic description that identifies the work and provides enough information for discovery, citation, and inventory management. In practice, a bookrecord is part of a larger bibliographic framework that standards and catalogs employ to organize printed and digital materials.

A typical bookrecord includes bibliographic metadata such as the title, author or authors, publication information (imprint), edition statement, language, physical description, and identifiers like ISBNs. It may also include subject headings, genre, notes, and links to related works or series. In library catalogs, bibliographic records are often encoded according to standards such as MARC 21, Dublin Core, or MODS. MARC records use fields such as 100 for the author, 245 for the title, and 020 for the ISBN, while newer practices emphasize linked data and RDA-based description.

Bibliographic records usually exist independently of holdings records, which track copies owned by a library. A single bookrecord may be associated with multiple holdings records for different copies or editions, across locations and formats. Catalogers follow established rules, such as AACR2 (historical) or RDA (current), to ensure consistency and interoperability across catalogs and systems.

In digital libraries and discovery systems, bookrecords may be stored as digital metadata in formats like MARC or Dublin Core and exposed through web-based catalogs or APIs. The concept of a bookrecord is central to library management, scholarly research, and the management of personal and institutional book collections.