1

Library of Congress Classification (Part 1)

November 19, 2012

2

Overview

History Characteristics System Structure Notational Structure Double Cutters Tables Demo in Classification Plus

3

History

LC Classification schedules developed 1898-1910

Emphasized LC’s collection strengths: social sciences (political science, law, history)

Originally, little emphasis on humanities, religion & philosophy

4

History (cont.)

In early years, schedules revised periodically Today, schedules are revised continuously Some schedules only recently published:

– KIA-KIX, Law of the Indigenous Peoples in the Americas, currently in draft form (2013?)

– KBS, Canon Law of Eastern Churches, 2012– L, Education, revised 2012– S, Agriculture, revised 2012

5

Characteristics

Enumerative - every topic explicitly listed No synthetic features 3½ shelf feet long in paper!

6

Characteristics (cont.)

Nonexpressive: notation does not reflect hierarchical relationshipsExample:

QH501-531 Life

QH540-549.5 Ecology

QH573-671 Cytology

7

Hospitality

Very hospitable: ability to accommodate changes is very great

– Gaps in lettering & numbering used for new topics– Decimal numbers can be added

Examples: Subclass ZA (information resources) added to Z class in 1996

DB919.2.C94 History of Hungary—Ethnography—Elements in the population—Czechs (added October 15, 2012)

Monthly lists: http://classificationweb.net/approved/1210.html

8

System Structure

21 classes using lettersA General worksB Philosophy. ReligionC History: Auxiliary sciences…U Military scienceV Naval scienceZ Bibliography. Library science. Info resources

9

System Structure (cont.)

Subclasses usually designated by a second letter (exceptionally by a third)

Q Science (general)

QA Mathematics

QB Astronomy

QC Physics

10

System Structure (cont.)

7 categories provide structure within each schedule as well as within subcategories

• Physical format• Philosophy• Study and teaching• General works• Laws and regulations• Juvenile works• Topical subdivisions

11

Notational structure

Alphabetic subclasses are further divided by sequential cardinal numbers from 1 to 9999

Example:

QC 1-75 Physics in general

QC 81-114 Weights and measures

QC 120-168.85 Descriptive and experimental mechanics

12

Notational structure (cont.)

Decimal numbers are sometimes used when topics are addedExample:

QC 814 Early works through 1800

General works, treatises, and textbooks

QC 815 1801-1969

QC 815.2 1970-

13

Cutter Numbers in Classification

Cutter numbers developed for shelflisting– Arranges all works in a class by main entry (author

or title)

In LCCS, cutter numbers are sometimes used to subdivide classes

14

Cutter Numbers in Classification (cont.)

Examples:Geomagnetism QC 811-QC 849

ObservatoriesQC 818.A2 General worksQC 818.A5-Z By region or country, A-Z

A work on geomagnetism observatories in Poland would be classed in QC818.P7

15

Cutter Numbers in Classification (cont.)

This results in two cutter numbers:1. Subclass division

2. Cutter for main entry

Example:The geomagnetism observatories of Poland / by I.C.

Magnetyt.

QC818.P7 $b M34 2012

16

Cutter Numbers in Classification (cont.)

Except in Class G, no more than two cutter numbers are allowed

In some cases, two cutter numbers are used in the classification tables. – The 1st cutter is for a topical subclass– The 2nd cutter is for a geographic country or locality

or name of a corporate body, etc.– A digit is added to the second cutter for the main

entry

17

Cutter Numbers in Classification (cont.)

Example:Propaganda and censorship during Canada’s great

war / by Jeff Keshen, 1996.

D639 class number for World War I

.P7 subclass for propaganda

C24 sub-subclass for Canada; added digit for Keshen

1996 year of publication

18

Tables in LCCS

Recurring patterns of subdivisions appear in tables

References to tables appear in the schedules Tables may contain:

– Cutter numbers to be added to a base class, or– Arabic numbers to be added to a base number

Classification Web Demo

Classification schedules and tables Classificationweb.net

19

20

In-class exercise: classifying beavers (bobry)

Classify the following topics:Mammals of the worldMammals of PolandBeaver reproductionRodent reproduction Ecology of beavers Aquatic mammals of

Central EuropeFossil beavers