Minerva material types & definitions

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, newpapers, newsletters, online continuing resources. Requires GMD “periodical”.

c: music scores. Printed and manuscript, vocal and instrumental. Requires GMD “music”.

e: maps. Printed maps, including atlases. Requires GMD “cartographic material”.

f: ms maps. Unpublished, hand drawn maps. Usually in archival collection. Requires GMD “cartographic material”.

g: Blu-ray. Videorecording disc requiring a Blu-Ray format player. GMD “videorecording”.

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.) Do not use a GMD.

j: Blu-Ray/DVD Combo. DVD and Blu-ray digital videodiscs packaged together and circulating as one item. GMD "videorecording"

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. The use of the following GMDs is required for applicable material: “art original”, “art reproduction”, “chart”, “flash card”, “picture”, “slide”. Do not use for graphic novels.

l: large print. Printed books with larger size type for ease of reading for vision impaired. Requires GMD "[text (large print)]".

m: music Mp3-CD. Mp3 format musical sound recording on a disc requiring an Mp3 format player. GMD “sound recording

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. Requires GMD “kit”.

p: archival material. Items (usually unpublished) collected for historical purposes such as diaries, correspondence, albums, scrapbooks, clippings, records, ledgers, manuscripts, typescripts, etc. Manuscripts require GMD “manuscript”.

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. Requires the following GMDs when applicable: “model”, “diorama”, “game”, “toy”, “realia”.

s: playaway. Preloaded digital audiobook, stored in electronic format in self-contained sound media player device. GMD: “sound recording”.

t: e-music. Downloadable or streaming music in electronic format such as Mp3, WMA, Mp4, etc. GMD “electronic resource”.

u: e-audiobook. Downloadable or streaming spoken word recorded book in electronic format such as Mp3, WMA, Mp4, etc. GMD “ electronic resource”.

v: spoken Mp3-CD. Mp3 format nonmusical sound recording on a disc requiring a Mp3 format player. GMD “sound recording”

w: microform. Miniature reproduction of printed or other graphic material which cannot be utilized without magnification. Material preserved on microfilm, microfiche, etc. GMD “microform”.

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. GMD “electronic resource”.

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. GMD “electronic resource”

z: software. Electronically stored application, including CD-ROMs, designed for use in a computer, game console, or other electronic device. GMD “electronic resource”

1: music CD. Compact disc digital format musical sound recording. GMD “sound recording”.

2: music cass. Audio cassette tape format musical sound recording. GMD “sound recording”.

3: spoken CD. Compact disc digital format nonmusical sound recording.
GMD “sound recording”.

4: spoken cass. Audio cassette tape format nonmusical sound recording.
GMD “sound recording”.

5: dvd. DVD digital video disc. GMD “videorecording”.

6: vhs. Videotape cassette, VHS format. GMD “videorecording”.

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. GMD “sound recording”.

8: Braille: Reading material for the blind, using the system of writing with characters made up of raised dots. GMD “Braille”.


Approved by Minerva Executive Board, January 27, 2011.
a complete list of approved GMD terms may be found at
http://www.maine.gov/infonet/minerva/cataloging/manual/ch4.htm#gmd