Collection Management
LC Call Number
Training Program
Overview
• Classification Theory
• Call Number Elements
• Using Call Numbers
Section 1: Classification
Theory
Classification Theory
Libraries need an organizational system
to find their materials. Libraries arrange
materials on the shelves so that items on
a particular subject are found close to
others on that subject.
This is called a classification system.
Classification Theory
One well-known classification system is the…
It is most frequently used in high school libraries and in
public libraries.
Classification Theory
College and University libraries use a different
classification system known as the…..
The Library of Congress
system was developed in
1897 at the Library of
Congress in Washington,
D.C.
Classification Theory
The LC system of call numbers uses a series of letters and
numbers to identify each book.
Call
Number
Classification Theory
The Library of
Congress Classification
System divides all
knowledge into twentyone major classes, such
as religion, history,
education, etc.
A letter from A to Z is
used to represent each
class.
Fiction
Math
Education
General
Knowledge
Classification Theory
• The Library of Congress has 21 broad subjects
and each one is assigned a letter of the
alphabet. The only letters not used are I, O, W,
X and Y.
• Subjects are defined even more by combining
letters of the alphabet to form subclasses. Some
combinations of call numbers you might see are
PS for American Literature or QD for
Chemistry.
Classification Theory
A complete LC call number is actually
composed of several parts:
Subclass
QA
Subdivision
76.8
Cutter Number
J66
Date
1988
Volume
V.1
Classification Theory
A vertical arrangement of call number components is
the customary display used on books
QA
76.8
.M3J66
1988
v.1
These call numbers can be found ...
Classification Theory
On the
Cover
Or on the
Spine
Section 2: Call Number Elements
Now, let’s learn more about the LC classification
system, how call numbers fit together and how you
interpret them.
Call Numbers
Sometimes the class letter is associated with the name of the
knowledge area:
•M
for
MUSIC
•T
for
TECHNOLOGY
•G
for
GEOGRAPHY
But more often it is just an arbitrary choice of a letter.
•P
for
LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
•B
for
PHILOSOPHY, PSYCHOLOGY, RELIGION
•Q
for
SCIENCE
Call Numbers
The broad classes of knowledge are then subdivided to
represent more specific areas of learning. Double letters such
as:
P, Q, M are CLASSES
PS, QK, ML are SUBCLASSES
For example:
PS
=
American Literature
QK
=
Botany
ML
=
Music Literature
Call Numbers
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 P
and the subclass for works by American authors is PS.
Call Numbers
As you can see each subclass is actually an entire area of
study in itself. Smaller subdivisions in the classification
system are necessary to bring books on similar topics
together in the library.
Numbers from 1-9999 are added to the class letters to
provide these subdivisions
Call Numbers
For example, within the ML subclass for music
literature:
ML 1 is used for music magazines
ML 410 is the class for biographies of composers
Call Numbers
Consider the book, Beethoven: Life and Works, by T. Carter.
It is classed in ML where books about Music (Music
Literature) are to be found.
Call Numbers
The ML subclass has several
ranges of numbers used to
represent different types of books
about music:
ML 159-197
ML 198-350
ML 385-429
Music history by time period
(20th century, medieval music, etc.)
Music history by country
(India, England, U.S.A., etc.)
Biographies
(composers, performers, scholars, etc.)
Call Numbers
In the biography subdivision, books about composers are
always classed in ML 410. We can find all the biographies of
famous composers, such as Beethoven and Mozart, in this
section.
Call Numbers
On the other hand, biographies of performers such as:
The Beatles, John Coltrane or David Hasselhoff
are classed in ML 420.
The Numbers used in subclasses designate
SPECIFIC CATAGORIES of materials.
Call Numbers
LC 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.
Class
Subclass
Subclass
Subclass
Subclass
Subdivision
Subdivision
Subdivision
Subdivision
Subdivision
Subdivision
Subdivision
Subdivision
There follows
some of the
subclasses in ‘Q’:
Q
Science
QA
Mathematics
QB
Astronomy
QC
Physics
QD
Chemistry
Call Numbers
Now we will look at subclass QD (Chemistry) and its subdivisions.
Note that there can be even smaller categories within subdivisions.
Q
Science
QD
Chemistry
1-65
General
71-142
Analytical Chemistry
146-197
Inorganic Chemistry
241-441
Organic Chemistry
415-436
Biochemistry
450-801
Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
625-655
Radiation Chemistry
701-731
Photochemistry
901-999
Crystallography
Cutter Numbers
The second component of an LC call number is the Cutter
Number.
It always begins with a decimal point, and consists of a
series of letters and numbers.
Cutter 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
.B8
Cutter 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
Whole Numbers
.4<.45<.5
4<5<45
Cutter Numbers
Cutter numbers may be Single:
.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 Double:
.B8N39
.B8N4
.B82A5
Cutter Numbers
In the biography section for composers (ML 410), the biographies
of Mozart are grouped by using the Cutter number “.M92”. In the
following example you can see the how single and double cutter
numbers function.”
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)
Other Call Number Elements
Other Call Number Elements
To identify a particular item more precisely, it is sometimes
necessary to add information to the basic call number
(classification and cutter numbers).
Basic
Other
Call Numbers
Identifiers
Other Call Number Elements
These elements may be…
Dates to indicate year of
publication.
PR
.C67
1987
Date
Other Call Number Elements
Series designation
(e.g. Ser.1, Ser.2, etc.)
when the publisher
has organized
volumes into different
groups or series.
Series
HB
1
.A5
Ser. 1
v.1
no.5
Other Call Number Elements
Volume Number (v.)
is used to identify one
volume of a multivolume work having
single title.
When periodical
issues are bound
together, a volume
number is an
important part of the
call number.
Volume
Number
HB
1
.A5
Ser. 1
v.1
no.5
Other Call Number Elements
Parts designation
(pt.) to indicate
that one volume
has been divided
into several parts.
Parts
Designation
M
3
.H46
Ser. 1
v.7
pt.5
Other Call Number Elements
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
Other Call Number Elements
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.
Other Call Number Elements
Copy Numbers
In some libraries each copy of a title is designated by adding Copy
1 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 you’re shelving in the stacks area).
Section 3:
Using Call Numbers
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
Using Call Numbers
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
KF
KFN
KG
KL
172
129
15
19
9
.G59
.F32
.T2
.L5T6
.89.B4
1891
c.2
pt.2
1982
v.2
Using Call Numbers
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
E
E
E
E
183
183
184
184
184.61
.L6
.51
.R73
.6
.C9
1999
1983
v.12
1998
v.2
Using Call Numbers
Numbers in front of the first decimal are whole numbers, while
those after the first decimal are considered groups of decimal
numbers.
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
15
153
1569
1569
1569
.5
.5
.5
.51
.6
1999
1999
1999
1999
1999
Using Call Numbers
•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
PR
PR
PR
PR
153
153
153.62
153.62
153.62
.5
.5
v.1
v.1
v.2
1998
1999
c.2
Using Call Number Elements
•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
PR
PS
PS
PS
153
153
.A18
154
154
1998
.5
1992
v.3
v.3
1998