Collection Management Training Program. Edward Suarez Designed by Edward Suarez Updated by The LC Training Group- 2005 Collection Management Group Rob

Collection Management Collection Management Training ProgramTraining Program

Designed by Edward Suarez Edward Suarez

Updated by The LC Training Group- 2005Updated by The LC Training Group- 2005

Collection Management GroupCollection Management Group

Book Graphics by Rob KrackRob Krack

Supervised by Marie BrodmanMarie Brodman

CreditsCredits

This training module will This training module will introduce you to the Library of introduce you to the Library of Congress Classification SystemCongress Classification System

• Classification Theory.

• Call numbers components.

• Using the call numbers for shelving.

Section 1: Classification Section 1: Classification TheoryTheory

ClassificationClassification TheoryTheory

Libraries need an organizational system to find their materials. Libraries arrange materials on the shelves so that items on a given subject are found close to others on that subject.

This is called a classificationclassification system.

ClassificationClassification TheoryTheory

One well-known system is

It is most frequently used in high school libraries and in many public libraries.

Classification TheoryClassification Theory

Many college and university libraries, however, use another one called the…..

Classification SystemClassification System

Because it was developed at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. in 1897.

Classification Theory

The LC system of call numbers uses a series of letters and numbers to identify each book.

Call Number


• Of the twenty-one broad classes of knowledge such as Religion, American History, etc., each one is given a Library of Congress class letter. Only five letters are not used : I, O, W, X and Y.

• Once the call number of a book has been decided, it is placed on the book as a label, usually on the spine of the book. That way it can be seen when the book is on the shelf.


A complete LC call number is actually composed of several parts:

V.1V.1

19881988

J66J66

76.876.8

QAQASubclass

Subdivision

Cutter Number

Date

Volume

Classification TheoryClassification TheoryA vertical arrangement of call number components is the customary display used on books

QA76.8

.M3J661988v.1

These call numbers can be found ...


Or on the Spine

On the Cover

Section 2: Call Number ElementsSection 2: Call Number Elements

Now, lets learn more about the LC classification system, how call numbers fit together and how you interpret them.

Call NumbersCall Numbers

The Library of Congress Classification System divides all knowledge into twenty-one major classes, such as religion, history, education, etc..

A letter from A to Z is used to represent each class.

General Knowledge

Education

MathFiction


Sometimes the class letter is associated with the name of the knowledge area:

•M M for MUSIC

•TT for TECHNOLOGY

•GG for GEOGRAPHY

But more often it is just an arbitrary choice of a letter.

•PP for LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE

•BB for PHILOSOPHY, PSYCHOLOGY, RELIGION

•QQ for SCIENCE


The broad classes of knowledge are then subdivided to represent more specific areas of learning. Double letters such as:

P, Q, M P, Q, M are CLASSES.

PS, QK, MLPS, QK, ML are SUBCLASSES

For example:

PSPS == American Literature

QKQK = Botany

MLML = Music Literature


Where would you expect to find various collections of the stories of Edgar Allan Poe?

Poe was an American author, therefore his books should be found with other books of American literature.

The classification for LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE is PP, and the subclass for works by American authors is PS.PS.


As you can see each subclass is actually an entire area of study or learning in itself. Smaller subdivisions in the classification system are necessary to bring books on similar topics together in the library.

Numbers from 1-9999Numbers from 1-9999 are added to the class letters to provide these subdivisions


For example within the ML subclasssubclass for music literature,

ML 1ML 1 is used for music magazines.

ML 410 ML 410 is the class for biographies of composers.


Consider the book, Beethoven: Life and Works, by T. Carter. It is classed in MLML where books about Music (Music Literature) are to be found.


The ML subclass has several ranges of numbers used to represent different types of books about music.

MLML 159-197159-197 Music history by time period (20th century, medieval music)

ML 198-350ML 198-350 Music history by country (India, England, U.S.A)

ML 385-429ML 385-429 Biographies (composers, performers, scholars)


In the biography subdivision, those books about composers are always classed in ML 410.ML 410. We can find all the biographies of famous composers, such as Beethoven and Mozart, in this section.


On the other hand, biographies of performers such as,

The Beatles, John Coltrane or David Hasselhoff

are classed in ML 420ML 420.

The Numbers used in subclasses designate SPECIFIC CATAGORIES of materials.

Call NumbersCall NumbersLC Classes, Subclasses and Numerical Subdivisions form a HIERARCHY--like an outline. Each large group may be divided into subgroups. Each subgroup is related to its larger group.

O u tlin e o f M od e l

N u m b er

N u m b er

N u m b er

S u b c lass

N u m b er

N u m b er

N u m b er

S u b c lass

Class

S u b jec t M od e l

9 0 1E co log y

7 1 0P h ys io log y

6 4 1A n atom y

Q KB otan y

9 0 1E co log y

7 1 0P h ys ilog y

6 4 1A n atom y

Q LZ oo log y

Q Science

HierarchiesHierarchies

Section 3: Cutter NumbersSection 3: Cutter Numbers

The second component of an LC call number is the Cutter Number, sometimes called the author number.

It always begins with a decimal point, and consists of a series of letters and numbers.

Cutter NumbersCutter Numbers

Let’s look at the order given to books in the classes F21:

F F F F F

21 21 21 21 21

.B4 .B45 .B5 .B73 .B8Cutter numbers

The order of the call numbers above shows that numerals in the Cutter Numbers are treated as Decimals rather than Whole Numbers.

Decimal Numbers

.4<.45<.5

Whole Numbers

4<5<45

Cutter NumbersCutter Numbers

Cutter numbers may be SingleSingle:

.R44 .R47

A single Cutter Number begins with a decimal point, has a letter and one or more numbers.

A Cutter Number may also be DoubleDouble:

.B8N39 .B8N4 .B82A5

Cutter NumbersCutter NumbersFor example, in the biography section for composers (ML 410), the biographies of Mozart are grouped by using the Cutter number “.M92”.

These biographies are further ordered through the use of a double Cutter Number. The second alpha-numeric sequence represents the names of the authors of the biographies.

.M92C6 - Life of Mozart by Cecile

(the “C” in the cutter number represents Cecile)

.M92E5 -Mozart: A Child Prodigy by Ewing

(the “E” in the cutter number represents Ewing)

Section 4: Other Call Number Section 4: Other Call Number ElementsElements

Other Call Number ElementsOther Call Number Elements

To identify a particular item more precisely, it is sometimes necessary to add information to the basic call number (classification number and cutter numbers).

BasicBasic


OtherOther

IdentifiersIdentifiers


These elements may be…..

Dates to indicate year of publication.

PR

.C67

1987

DateDate


Additional elements may be..

Series designation (e.g. Ser.1, Ser.2, etc.) when the publisher has organized volumes into different groups or series.

HB

1

.A5

Ser. 1

v.1

no.5

Series


Additional elements may also be..

Volume Number (v.) is used to identify one volume of a multi-volume work having single title.

When periodical issues are bound together, a volume number is an important part of the call number.

HB

1

.A5

Ser. 1

v.1

no.5

Volume Number


The final additional Element is….

Parts designation (pt.) to indicate that one volume has been divided into several parts.

M

3

.H46

Ser. 1

v.7

pt..5

Parts

Designation


The various additional descriptors may be combined in different ways as needed to provide a unique location for each item in the library’s collection.

M

3

.H46

Ser. 1

v.7

pt..5

M

3

.H46

Ser. 1

v.7

pt..6

M

3

.H46

Ser. 1

v.8

M

3

.H46

Ser. 1

v.8

pt.2

M

3

.H46

Ser. 1

v.8

pt.3

M

3

.H46

Ser. 1

v.8

pt.4

Using Call Number ElementsUsing Call Number Elements

Because there are so many different elements to call numbers, it can sometimes be confusing trying to determine what call numbers go in what order. To help you, remember the following rules.

• Single letters are shelved before double letters.

• Letters are shelved before numbers.

•Numbers in front of the first decimal are whole numbers, while those after the first decimal are considered groups of decimal numbers.

• Volume, copy number and/or date are information that may not appear on every call number.

• Nothing comes before something.


Single letters are shelved before double letters.

When you have a call number that starts with a single letter, all call numbers that start with that letter and an additional letter are shelved after it. Below, there are several call numbers from the K section that provide a good example of this. Double letters are also shelved before triple letters.

K

172

.G59

1891

KF

129

.F32

c.2

KFN

15

.T2

pt.2

KG

19

.L5T6

1982

KL

9

.89.B4

v.2


Letters are shelved before numbers.

When you encounter a cutter number where there are no letters at the beginning of the cutter, it is shelved after the cutters with letters at the beginning. Be aware that some cutter numbers start on the same line as the base number, and some start on the next line.

E

183

.L6

1999

E

183

.51

1983

E

184

.R73

v.12

E

184

.6

1998

E

184.61

.C9

v.2


Numbers in front of the first decimal are whole numbers, while those after the first decimal are considered groups of decimal numbers.

Q

15

.5

1999

Q

153

.5

1999

Q

1569

.5

1999

Q

1569

.51

1999

Q

1569

.6

1999


•Volume, copy number and/or date are information that may not appear on every call number.

Also notice that both copies of the 1st copy come before the second volume of this series.

PR

153

.5

1998

PR

153

.5

1999

PR

153.62

v.1

PR

153.62

v.1

c.2

PR

153.62

v.2


•Nothing comes before something.

If a call number is does not have an element, such as a cutter number, it is shelved before one that has a cutter. Think of an “invisible” zero cutter, or a place holder, that makes the call number without a cutter come before one that does. The same applies to other elements as well, like years and copies, as well as base numbers.

PR

153

1998

PR

153

.5

PS

.A18

1992

PS

154

v.3

PS

154

v.3

1998


There are also some occasional and unusual designations attached to call numbers such as:

•Suppl (Supplement)

•Index

•Ser. Set (Serial set)

•1st S. (first session --for certain papers of the U.S. Congress)

The important thing to remember is to interpret the call number first and then take each additional element and arrange it numerically.


Copy Numbers

In some libraries each copy of a title is designated by adding Copy Copy 1 or Cop. 2 or C.31 or Cop. 2 or C.3 to the call number of the title. This was formerly the practice of the RU Libraries, but now barcode numbers provide copy identification when it is needed and (old) copy markings can be ignored (Unless your shelving in the stacks area).

Documents

Collection Management Training Program. Edward Suarez Designed by Edward Suarez Updated by The LC Training Group- 2005 Collection Management Group Rob