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Morris Library

Cataloging: Basic LC

Basic Elements of LC Classification

Overview:

I. Basic Elements

II. Conversion Policies

III. Formatting the Call Number in the MFHD

IV. LC Biography and Artists' Tables

V. LC Cutter Chart

VI. LC Translation Table

VII. Local Practices

VIII. Modification of LC Call Numbers

 

I. Basic Elements

1st element:

One, two or three LETTERS

2nd element:

Whole number (1-9999) or whole number with decimal extension
(Maximum digits before the decimal = four)

3rd element:

.Axx
(The first cutter, always preceded by a decimal. A date is possible in this element, but it is rare.)

4th element:

date or Axx
(Second cutter does not get a decimal)

5th element:

date (If second cutter appears in 4th line)

Succeeding elements include copy number, volume number or part designations (guide, part, series, supplement, etc.)

II. Conversion Policies

Starting in January 2002, new materials acquired for Morris Library were classified according to the Library of Congress Classification system.

Categories of material in locations other than the general collection were discussed during meetings held in December 2001, with the resulting decisions:

ADDS
Classify additional copies of books already in the Dewey collection in LC. Create a new MFHD with the LC stacks location for new copies.

BOOKS with accompanying material

Give the same LC call number to the book and the accompanying material, but create separate MFHDs for each item.  Superscript accompanying material for Media.

Book:

852 0 $b 740186 $h QA76.73.J39 $i V36 2000

Accompanying Material:

852 0 $b 740179 $k Media $h QA76.73.J39 $i V36 2000

IMC / H.IMC
Class in Dewey (13th ed.).

EDITIONS
Class new editions in LC. Leave previous editions in the Dewey collection. If an earlier edition has a valid LC-assigned LC number, use that for the new edition. If uncertain, ask your superior.

MAP LIBRARY
Classify all new material purchased for the Map Library in LC. Add a superscript for "Map Room" to the call number on the title page.

OVERSIZE map materials: Include a prefix ($k) for "oversize." Add a superscript "Oversize" or "Folio" to the call number on the title page.

852  0   $b mrx$k Oversize $h G1440 $i .G6 1976

OVERSIZE
New material for the LC stacks that meets the criteria for Oversizei will be shelved in a separate location. Add a superscript "Oversize" or "Folio" to the call number on the title page to alert Marking. Do not use Oversize designations for Reference material.

852 0   $b lcq$k Oversize $h TR681.A7 $i D43 1999

852 0   $b lcf $k Folio $h TR654.I98 $i S2 2001

 

Oversize
TR
681
.A7
D43
1999

Folio
TR
654
.I98
S2
2001

 

 

III. Formatting the Call Number in the MFHD

Example 1: Simple class number and cutter

 

$h Axx $i .Axx date

$h GV735 $i .C57 1985
$h HC256.3 $i .R33 1999

Example 2: $h subfield includes a decimal and the first cutter as part of the call number

 

$h AAxxxx.xx.Axx $i Axx date

$h E183.8.G7 $i A66 2000

 

IV.           LC Biography and Artists’ Tables

 

Below is the table which LC uses in conjunction with Cutter numbers assigned to biographical works about individual persons (except in Class P and for individual artists in Class N).

.x

Cutter number for individual

.xA2

Collected works, by date of imprint. (If entry is open, use the earliest imprint date.)

.xA25

Selected works, by date of imprint. (If entry is open, use the earliest imprint date.)

.xA3-39

Autobiography, diaries, etc.

.xA4

Letters, by date of imprint

.xA41-49

Letters to an individual, by correspondent (A-Z)

.xA5-59

Speeches, etc.

.xA6-Z

Biography and criticism

Individual artists (Class N)

.x

Cutter number for individual

.xA2

Autobiography, by date

.xA3

Letters, by date

.xA35

Speeches, essays, interviews, etc. of the artist, by date

.xA4

Reproductions (collections) by date, including exhibition catalogs even if the artist is not the main entry

.xA6-79

Individual works of art, alphabetically by title of work of art, and date

.xA8-Z

Biography and criticism

 

V. LC Cutter Chart

General Cutter tables for LCC

1) After initial vowels

for the second letter:

b-c

d-k

l-m

n-o

p-q

r

s-t

u-z

use number:

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

2) After the initial letter S

for the second letter:

a

ch

e

h-i

m-p

t

u

w-z

use number:

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

3) After the initial letters Qu

for the second letter:

a

e

i

o

r

t

y

use number:

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

For initial letters beginning Qa-Qt, use: 2-29.

4) After other initial consonants

for the second letter:

a

e

i

o

r

u

y

use number:

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

5) For expansion

for the letter:

a-d

e-h

i-l

m-o

p-s

t-v

w-z

use number:

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

For authors or titles starting with Arabic numerals, use A12-19.

 

VI. LC Translation Table

Cutter translations using the following table:

.x

Original work

.x12

Polyglot **

.x13

English translation

.x14

French translation

.x15

German translation

.x16

Italian translation

.x17

Russian translation

.x18

Spanish translation

 

**The cutter for polyglot is assigned when a work is written in several languages.

Use the Translation Table when cuttering for a translation only when a uniform title plus language(s) is provided and when the main entry is a personal author or title. Do not use the table for entries with a corporate or conference heading. Do not use the table for autobiographies or correspondence.

If two languages are named in the uniform title, cutter for the first language.

If cuttering for a language not indicated in the table, assign a cutter that fits alphabetically into the table.

If the classification schedule says By language, A-Z, do not use the translation table.

 

VII. Local Practices

Z5051-8999 (subject and personal bibliographies) are not used locally. Class these items by subject.

Alternate or obsolete LC call numbers - those in parentheses in the LC schedule and in Classification Plus - are not used locally. Assign a current LC number; consider reclassing other works in the obsolete range, if feasible.

 

VIII. Modification of LC Call Numbers

If a bibliographic record lacks an 050 or 090, create a call number. Assign a Cutter number with at least two digits. Add a lowercase x to the date in the call number you create in order to avoid duplicating a call number assigned by LC to a different title.

$h D157  $i .O482 1999x

If necessary, the call number may be revised if LC also catalogs the item at a later date.

Editions. Modify LC call numbers for different editions of a title to represent the book in hand by adding the appropriate publication date to an LC-assigned call number.

For editions published in the same year, add sequential work letters, beginning with "b" to differentiate the items.

$h PR6019.O9  $i P64  2000

$h PR6019.O9  $I P64  2000b

$h PR6019.O9  $i P64  2000c   (etc.)

Facsimile or photocopies. For facsimile or photocopy editions, use the imprint date of the original edition and add a lowercase "a" to the date. Using the date of the reproduction might mislead library users into believing they have located a new edition of the title.

$h D157  $i .O482 1999

$h D157  $i .O482 1999a
 

Corporate authors. For corporate main entries, use the imprint date in the call number. If another work by the same corporate body is received in the same year, add sequential letters beginning with "a" to the date.

$h N611  $i .A6 1924

$h N611  $I .A6 1924a

Bibliographies. Class with the subject. Use Z for general or national bibliographies.