Reading levels can be found primarily in records for print materials (MARC format) and sound recordings (MUSIC format), although there are a few in the videorecording format (VM).
Lexile measure is used to match readers with books. Readers and books are assigned a score on the Lexile scale. Lower scores reflect easier readability for books and lower reading ability for readers.
521 tag. Use for Lexile information. The first indicator is 8.
Use subfields “a” and “b”
The Lexile measure is in subfield “a” (which does not normally display in WYLD bibliographic records, but is implied as the first subfield) and the program name is in subfield “b”.
Do not use punctuation anywhere in this tag or at the end of this tag.
Make sure you use a zero and not the letter “o” in the Lexile measure.
Do not add extra spaces in this tag.
521 8 680|bLexile
521 8 1010L|bLexile
Enter the tag exactly as shown here. Use the capitalization as shown above; use the text as shown above.
Do not include additional information within this tag.
Do not put the text in quotation marks.
Any deviation from this format means the entry can’t be extracted for a limiting option in the public catalog.
Lexile Measures
The chart above displays the typical Lexile ranges within a given grade level, for both readers and text. Use this chart to estimate the reader’s Lexile range based on grade level. However, remember that not all students in the same grade level read at the same Lexile level.
Lexile measures are sometimes displayed without the “L” following the number. These values without the "L" are estimates of Lexile text measures and are not certified Lexile measures.
Lexile Codes
These designations are used with the Lexile measures to indicate special characteristics of the text.
AD (Adult-directed text): This text is to be read to, or with, the reader.
NC (Non-conforming text): This text contains vocabulary and sentence length that is not consistent with the publisher’s intended audience. Usually this text is written at a higher level than what is suggested by the content and format of the text.
HL (High-low): This text has a Lexile level lower than the average reading ability of the intended age group; those with high interest and low readability.
IG (Illustrated glossary): This text contains “independent pieces” of text such as a glossary, illustrations and diagrams.
GN (Graphic novel): This text uses voice or thought bubbles and is written in graphic novel or comic book form.
BR (Beginning reading): This text has a Lexile level of zero or below. It is shown with just the BR designation and no zero or negative number. This text is usually read aloud to the student.
NP (Non-prose): This is applied to any book that has content with over half non-standard prose such as poetry, plays, or songs. These books don’t receive a Lexile measure; they just have the NP code.
The above is from Ebsco Help file in Novelist Plus
These Lexile codes are entered in the same format as the Lexile measures.
521 tag. Use for Lexile information. The first indicator is 8.
Use subfields “a” and “b”
The Lexile code is in subfield “a” (which does not normally display in WYLD bibliographic records, but is implied as the first subfield) and the program name is in subfield “b”.
Do not use punctuation anywhere in this tag or at the end of this tag.
Make sure you use a zero and not the letter “o” in the Lexile measure.
Do not add extra spaces in this tag. Use only a single space between the Lexile code (e.g. IG) and the Lexile measure (e.g. 780).
521 8 IG 780|bLexile
521 8 BR|bLexile
Enter the tag exactly as shown here. Use the capitalization as shown above; use the text as shown above.
Do not include additional information within this tag.
Do not put the text in quotation marks.
Any deviation from this format means the entry can’t be extracted for a limiting option in the public catalog.
Accelerated Reader is a computerized program that tests reading comprehension. Readers select books on their reading level, read independently, and take an independent comprehension test on the computer. Each book is worth a certain number of points based on its length and reading level.
526 tag. Use for Accelerated Reader. The first indicator is 0 (zero).
Use subfields “a” and “c”
The program name is entered in subfield “a” (which does not normally display in WYLD bibliographic records, but is implied as the first subfield) and the reading level is in subfield “c”.
Do not use punctuation at the end of this tag. The only punctuation that should appear in this tag is in the subfield “c” if the reading level is as shown below. This example: 4.5 is for the fifth month of grade 4.
Do not add extra spaces in this tag.
526 0 Accelerated Reader|c4.5
Enter the tag exactly as shown here. Use the capitalization as shown above; use the text as shown above.
Do not include additional information within this tag.
Do not put the text in quotation marks.
Any deviation from this format means the entry can’t be extracted for a limiting option in the public catalog.
To see a chart comparing Lexile measures, Accelerated Reader level and Guided Reading level, click on: https://www.ecu.edu/cs-lib/trc/upload/reading-correlation-chart-2-with-color.pdf
Another site that can offer assistance is AR Bookfind at: http://www.arbookfind.com/UserType.aspx
This site will ask you to identify that you are a librarian, but it asks no further questions about you.
Within a title record in AR Bookfind, there are 3 lines in the middle of the record that have a question mark at the beginning of each of those lines. Clicking on the question mark next to the first line that has information similar to this: IL: LG - BL: 3.3 - AR pts: 0.5 opens a pop- up window that offers information on what these elements mean.
(If you have a pop-up blocker on your browser, you won't get to see this little explanation box.
This pop-up box in AR Bookfind describes the elements in that line as shown in the example above. If you can’t see the pop-up box, below is a brief representation of what can be found there).
IL = Interest level
In this group, there are the following definitions: LG = lower grades (k-3); MG = middle grades (4-8); MG+ = upper middle grades (6 and up); UG = upper grades (9-12)
Most MG books are marked as YA (young adult) for interest level.
BL (ATOS book level)
Book level 4.5 means the text could likely be read independently by a student whose reading skills are at the level of a typical fourth grader during the fifth month of school. The example above is 3.3 so third grade, third month.
Lexile measure:
This represents the complexity of a text. Lexile measures are expressed as numeric measures usually followed by an "L" (for example 680L) and are placed on the Lexile scale. This Lexile scale is a developmental scale for measuring reader ability and text complexity, ranging from below 200L for beginning readers and beginning reader materials to above 1600L for advanced readers and materials.
Those values without the "L" are estimates of Lexile text measures and are not certified Lexile measures.
Accelerated Reader points (AR Pts)
Each book that has a reading level practice quiz is given a point value. AR points are computed based on the difficulty of the book (ATOS readability level) and the length of the book (number of words). The AR Pts in the example above have a value of only 0.5.
Guided Reading
Scholastic Guided Reading is used in the class room for small-group reading and for independent reading. The levels range alphabetically from A to Z. Level A represents the lowest level and level Z is the highest. At http://www.scholastic.com/bookwizard/ you can search a book title and upon retrieval view Guided Reading level, Lexile measure, and Accelerated Reading level.
521 tag. Use for Guided Reading level. The indicators are blank.
Use subfields “a” and “b”
The Program name is in subfield “a” (which does not normally display in WYLD bibliographic records, but is implied as the first subfield) and the level designation is in subfield “b”.
Do not use punctuation anywhere in this tag or at the end of this tag.
Do not add extra spaces in this tag.
521 Guided reading level|bM
Enter the tag exactly as shown here. Use the capitalization as shown above; use the text as shown above, except for the level in subfield “b” which will change.
Do not include additional information within this tag. This reading level information often gets embedded within another tag (521, 500, or 526). Cut it from that tag and enter it in its own 521 tag.
Do not put the text in quotation marks.
Any deviation from the format above means the entry can’t be extracted for a limiting option in the public catalog.
REMEMBER: If records are overlaid or merged, these tags may appear twice in the new record, once in the correct area chronologically and also at the bottom of the record. If the entries are identical, delete the 521 and 526 tags at the bottom of the record.