Release Notes July 2025
This release outlines updates to Springer Nature MARC records, supporting two key objectives:
- Adding accessibility metadata to support the European Accessibility Act (EAA)
- Improving how Living Reference Works are identified by linking new eBook packages to library codes
1. Accessibility Metadata Enhancements
Springer Nature MARC records now include standardized metadata describing the accessibility features of digital content, i.e. Springer Nature eBooks. These enhancements support compliance with the European Accessibility Act (EAA) and improve discovery of accessible resources for libraries and users.
| New MARC Fields Introduced | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Field | Field description | Indicators | Subfields |
341 | Accessibility features (technical or structural) | 1st: 0 2nd: # | $b = value $2 = source |
532 | Accessibility notes | 1st: 8 2nd: # | $a = value or summary (free text) |
| Example MARC Snippets |
|---|
<datafield ind1="0" ind2="#" tag="341"> |
| <datafield ind1="8" ind2="#" tag="532"> <subfield code="a">Publisher contact for further accessibility information: accessibilitysupport@springernature.com</subfield> </datafield> |
Implementation Notes
- These fields follow MARC21 standards and are populated according to current metadata specifications.
- The MARC format for accessibility is still evolving, and ongoing discussions in the library community may lead to updates in future MARC releases.
- These updates focus on accessibility features for the PDF format, which is the primary format described in Springer Nature MARC records.
- On the Springer Nature Link platform, users will see additional accessibility details for other formats, such as ePub.
2. Improved Identification of Living Reference Works
To enhance cataloguing accuracy and discovery of Living Reference Works, new MARC mappings now link eBook packages to standardized library codes.
With the current MARC release, a total of 30 new library codes have been registered at the German ISIL and Library Code Agency at Berlin State Library. These codes are included in MARC records and facilitate better integration with library systems.
List of New Library Codes
| English/International Packages | ||
|---|---|---|
Library Code | Springer Nature Package ID | Springer Nature Package Term |
ZDB-2-143 | 40438 | Living Reference Biomedicine and Life Sciences |
ZDB-2-145 | 40440 | Living Reference Chemistry and Materials Science |
ZDB-2-146 | 40441 | Living Reference Computer Sciences |
ZDB-2-147 | 40442 | Living Reference Earth and Environmental Science |
ZDB-2-148 | 40443 | Living Reference Engineering |
ZDB-2-150 | 40445 | Living Reference Mathematics |
ZDB-2-151 | 40446 | Living Reference Medicine |
ZDB-2-152 | 40447 | Living Reference Physics and Astronomy |
ZDB-2-153 | 40448 | Living Reference Professional Computing and Web Design |
ZDB-2-154 | 40449 | Living Reference Energy |
ZDB-2-155 | 41876 | Living Reference Behavioral Science and Psychology |
ZDB-2-156 | 41878 | Living Reference Business and Management |
ZDB-2-157 | 41879 | Living Reference Economics and Finance |
ZDB-2-158 | 41880 | Living Reference Education |
ZDB-2-159 | 43265 | Living Reference History |
ZDB-2-160 | 43266 | Living Reference Literature, Cultural and Media Studies |
ZDB-2-161 | 43267 | Living Reference Political Science and International Studies |
ZDB-2-162 | 41882 | Living Reference Religion and Philosophy |
ZDB-2-163 | 41883 | Living Reference Social Sciences |
ZDB-2-164 | 41881 | Living Reference Law and Criminology |
ZDB-2-165 | 42945 | Living Reference Intelligent Technologies and Robotics |
| German Packages | ||
|---|---|---|
Library Code | Springer Nature Package ID | Springer Nature Package Term |
ZDB-2-166 | 40982 | Living Reference Medizin |
ZDB-2-167 | 40983 | Living Reference Technik und Informatik |
ZDB-2-168 | 40986 | Living Reference Wirtschaftswissenschaften |
ZDB-2-170 | 40988 | Living Reference Naturwissenschaften |
ZDB-2-171 | 40989 | Living Reference Psychologie |
ZDB-2-172 | 43269 | Living Reference J.B. Metzler Geistes Wissenschaften |
ZDB-2-173 | 43268 | Living Reference Sozialwissenschaften und Recht |
ZDB-2-174 | 42946 | Living Reference Erziehungswissenschaft und Soziale Arbeit |
Summary of Changes
- New accessibility metadata fields (341 and 532) support EAA compliance and enhance discoverability of accessible content.
- 30 newly registered library codes now identify Living Reference Works across disciplines, improving catalog integration and user discovery.
Contact & Feedback
If you have questions about these updates or would like to provide feedback, please contact us at: onlineservice@springernature.com
We welcome input from the library and metadata communities as we continue to enhance our MARC records in line with global standards and evolving needs.