I'm no MARC expert, but I've learned enough to say that yes, this is valid in that what you're seeing is the $q (Electronic format type) and $u (Uniform Resource Identifier ) subfields of the 856 field. 

http://www.oclc.org/bibformats/en/8xx/856.shtm

You'll see other things when you get multiple authors (creators) on an item or multiple anythings that can occur more than once.

--Joel

Joel Richard
IT Specialist, Web Services Department
Smithsonian Institution Libraries | http://www.sil.si.edu/
(202) 633-1706 | [log in to unmask]




On May 19, 2011, at 12:37 PM, James Lecard wrote:

> I'm using ruby-marc ruby parser (v.0.4.2) to parse some marc files I get
> from a partner.
> 
> The 856 field is splitted over 2 lines, causing the ruby library to ignore
> it (I've patched it to overcome this issue) but I want to know if this kind
> of marc is valid ?
> 
> =LDR  00638nam  2200181uu 4500
> =001  cla-MldNA01
> =008  080101s2008\\\\\\\|||||||||||||||||fre||
> =040  \\$aMy Provider
> =041  0\$afre
> =245  10$aThis Subject
> =260  \\$aParis$bJ. Doe$c2008
> =490  \\$aSome topic
> =650  1\$aNarratif, Autre forme
> =655  \7$abook$2lcsh
> =752  \\$aA Place on earth
> =776  \\$dParis: John Doe and Cie, 1973
> =856  \2$qtext/html
> =856  \\$uhttp://www.this-link-will-not-be-retrieved-by-ruby-marc-library
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> James L.