Table of Contents

Introduction
Name Sequence

A-D -- Abu Dhabi to Dza-chu
E-M -- Earth to Myanmar
N-S -- Namibia to Szechwan Province (China)
T-Z -- T.A.A.F. to Zimbabwe

Code Sequence - alternative ASCII version
Changes in 2002 edition
Changes since 2002 edition

Next printed edition: To be announced.

GENERAL INFORMATION

This document contains a list of geographic areas and their associated one- to seven-character codes. The list includes separate codes for countries, first order political divisions of some countries, regions, geographic features, outer space, and celestial bodies. The purpose of this list is to allow places reflected in the subject headings assigned to an item to be designated by codes in the MARC record for that item.

The list contains 575 discrete codes, of which 51 are discontinued codes no longer valid for use.This list was originally developed through the collaboration of three former units of the Library of Congress: Research Services, MARC Development Office, and Subject Cataloging Division. It is currently maintained by the Library of Congress' Cataloging Policy and Support Office and Network Development and MARC Standards Office.

The list published here includes all valid and obsolete codes as of March 2003. A list of all changes made in the 2002 printed edition is located at: www.loc.gov/marc/geoareas/gacs_chg.html. Likewise, a list of changes made since the 2002 printed edition was published is located at: www.loc.gov/marc/gacschg.html. These changes are added to the web-based code list 90 days after they are first announced. They will also be incorporated in the new printed edition when it is published.

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STRUCTURE OF THE CODES

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ARRANGEMENT OF THE LIST

Part I: Name Sequence

In this part, the places are listed alphabetically by the name. An entry for a place with a unique code gives the name followed by the code in brackets, both in boldface. Any variant names of the place are listed on successive lines, with the first variant preceded by the symbol UF (used for). For example:

The entry for a place which does not have a unique code, but is assigned a code for another place, is similar except that the assigned code with its associated place name is given on the lines following the name. For example:

The UF names from each of these entries also appear in their alphabetic position in the list as references, but not in boldface. These references do not give the code; the entry under the name referred to must be consulted to determine the code. For example:

Entries may also include a note in italics explaining a change in the use of codes. For example:

Unusual situations may require additional notes.

See the section "Changes in the Codes" below for more information about these notes.

Part II: Code Sequence

Part III: Places Represented by Single Character Codes

Appendix A: Changes

This part contains a list of code changes from the 2000 edition.

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APPLICATION OF THE CODES

Geographic area codes are assigned in bibliographic records to bring out by code the geographic areas that appear or are implied in the headings assigned to the work being cataloged. Generally, codes are assigned for headings in a subject added entry for a geographic name (field 651) or headings in other fields which contain a geographic subdivision (subfield $z). Codes are also assigned for headings representing ethnic groups, nationalities, civilizations, topics qualified by ethnic groups or nationalities, individual named entities including corporate bodies, and events.
Geographic area codes may be included in authority records for geographic areas associated with the established heading of the record.The following guidelines describe application of the codes in specific situations.

Geographic entities (General). The appropriate code for a geographic feature, region, or jurisdiction is assigned, if such a code exists.

Local entities. For a local geographic feature, region, or jurisdiction, the appropriate code for the country or first order political division in which the entity is located is assigned. Separate codes for the first order political divisions of the following countries have been provided: Australia, Canada, China, Great Britain, and the United States. Codes have also been provided for some individual regions within Russia (Federation). For any work dealing with one of these regions as a whole, the indicated code is assigned. For an entity, such as a city, located within one of these regions, the code for the corresponding republic is assigned instead.

Entities located in several countries. For an entity located in several countries, codes are assigned for each country, or for a larger encompassing region. If an entity is located in several first order political divisions, for countries having separate codes for political divisions, codes are assigned for each division.

Historic jurisdictions, empires, kingdoms, etc. Codes are assigned that correspond to modern-day jurisdictions or areas, generally coding for the greatest territorial extent of these entities. For works that discuss a jurisdiction during a period when its territory was more limited and for works focusing on a specific location within a historical jurisdiction, the appropriate code for the particular place is assigned.

Parts of regions. When a work deals with both a large geographic region for which a specific code exists and a locality within the region, code for both the region and the locality. If a single, specific code does not exist for the region, code only for the part of the region covered by the work.

Multiple area orientation. When a work deals with several geographical locations, a code is assigned for each or for a larger encompassing region.

Ethnic groups, nationalities, civilizations, etc. Codes are assigned for the jurisdictions or areas where ethnic groups, etc. are located. For an individual element in the population, a code is assigned only for the present locality, not the place of origin, as long as the people are citizens or permanent residents.

Foreign members of a population. Codes are assigned for both the place of origin and current location of peoples who are in an area other than their permanent homeland, including travelers, temporary residents, aliens, and foreign students.

Influence of one nation on another. For the impact of one place on another, codes are assigned for both places.

Special topics modified by names of ethnic groups or nationalities. A code is assigned for the jurisdiction or areas where the ethnic group or nationality is located. If the work is limited to a special locality, a code is assigned only for that locality. If the work deals with an area outside of the area normally associated with the people, codes are assigned for both places.

Language. When assigning a code for language (usually only if the work deals with geographic aspects of the language), a code is assigned for the location of the language. No code is assigned to grammars, textbooks for learning a language, histories of linguistic changes such as changes in phonology, etc. No code is assigned to a work if the subject heading assigned is intended to bring out the language of a publication.

Named entities. Codes are assigned for the location of individual named entities, including corporate bodies, buildings and structures, roads, waterways, railroads, monuments, camps, parks, gardens, etc. For government agencies, codes are assigned for the jurisdictions the agencies serve.

Events, exhibitions, movements, etc. A code is assigned for the location of the occurrence.

Biography and genealogy. Codes are assigned to works of biography (individual or collective) and to works of genealogy, for the location of the individual, group, or family if geographic areas are localized.

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CHANGES IN THE CODES

When it becomes necessary to change a code because the status of an entity has changed, notes are added to the list to explain the code changes and the date the change was made. If the old code is discontinued, it is retained in the code list for information.

The code for the latest name (the new code) should be used in all new records. The old code, however, will not always be changed in previously input records. Thus when using geographic area codes to retrieve records, if the code for the entity has changed since the implementation of an earlier code list, it is advisable to specify both the new and previously assigned (historical) codes in the retrieval request if records coded prior to the changes are desired.

Example: One entity assigned a single code splits into two or more separate entities. In this case, each of the new entities is assigned a new code, and the code for the older combined entity is discontinued. Notes are also added to each entity indicating the date of the code change.

Example: One entity previously assigned a code is annexed by another entity which is already assigned a different code, e.g., Sikkim was annexed by India. In this case, the code for the annexed entity is discontinued, and the annexed entity is assigned the code for the annexing entity.

Example: An entity which was assigned the code of another entity splits off. In this case, the code for the existing entity is retained, and a new code is created for the entity which split off.

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MARC 21 FORMATS AND FIELDS IN WHICH CODES ARE USED

CODE MAINTENANCE

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