Shelving Music Scores
Music Library
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC 27858
LC Call Number System
The Music Library uses the Library of
Congress (LC) call number system to
shelve print items such as music scores
and books.
For this particular tutorial we will only
concentrate on shelving scores, which file
into class “M” of the LC system.
M
“M” tells you that this
item is printed music
or a score.
M
23
The number found after
the general subject
heading of “M”, breaks
down the subject area
even more.
So far the call number
tells us that we have a
piece of printed music that
is a piano sonata.
M
23
B414
The third line of the call
number is called the
Cutter.
The Cutter number is
named after its creator:
Charles Ammi Cutter.
The Cutter represents a
name or title.
In this case:
B414 = Beethoven.
This score is a piano
sonata by Beethoven.
More on the “Cutter”…
Cutter numbers will always have the same format:
A single capital letter followed by a number:
C4, B13, G42, etc.
The number is always read decimally.
C49 comes before C5 (.49 is less than .5)
B414 comes before B42 (.414 is less than .42)
It may help you to imagine a zero at the end of the
shorter numbers:
B414 comes before B420
Ordering Cutter numbers
decimally…
M
100
B134
M
100
B2
M
100
B39
M
100
B4
M
100
B5
Remember, you can add zeros if it helps…
.134 then .200 then .390 then .400 then .500
More decimals…
M
23
C13
F5
M
23
C13
F51
M
23
C13
F597
Adding zeros…
.500 then .510 then .597
then
M
23
C13
F6
.600
M
23
B414
C7
The fourth line of the
call number can be
another Cutter, or it
can be any number of
other things that we
call “additional
elements.”
Additional Elements…
op. 17
BWV 109
W. 23
no. 3
K. 325
1987
v. 1
v. 2
c. 2
Additional elements give you even more
information about an item.
Shelve the additional elements in alphabetical
order. Shelve dates in numerical order after the
alphabetical sequence
Any numbers associated with additional
elements are read as WHOLE numbers.
An example of additional elements
in whole number order.
M
2023
B16
BWV 11
C3
1997
M
2023
B16
BWV 102
1941
M
2023
B16
BWV 124
1996
M
2023
B16
S. 12
W4
1997z
Another example…
M
3
B1133
ser. 1
v. 3
M
3
B1133
ser. 1
v. 4
M
3
B1133
ser. 2
v. 5
M
3
B1133
ser. 2
v. 5
c. 2
M
3
B1133
ser. 2
v. 5
c. 3
of putting additional elements in whole number order.
Yet another example…
M
2020
B16
BWV 106
M
2020
B16
BWV 106
no. 1
1990
M
2020
B16
BWV 106
no. 2
M
2020
B16
BWV 106
1982
M
2020
B16
BWV 106
1985
of putting additional elements in whole number order.
A few definitions…
op. = Opus number

A number assigned to a musical composition
no. = Serial number

Indicates the order of composition and/or
publication
1923 = Date of publication

Often the last element in the call number
Thematic Index Number

A unique number assigned by the compiler of a
thematic index to each composition in the index.
Examples: BWV 100; W. 23; D. 759; K. 36
So what is a thematic index?
A list of all the compositions by a particular
composer. The person compiling the list will usually
assign a unique number to each piece. Sometimes it
is easier to identify a piece by its thematic index
number when searching the library catalog.
Just a few more…
v. = volume

A large work may be broken down into
separate, smaller books or scores. Each one
of these items would be a volume.
c. = copy

If the library has multiple copies of the same
item, the call number will indicate which copy
it is.
Take Note!
Nothing comes before Something
M
1621.4
B47
N8
M
1621.4
B47
N8
1955
Nothing comes before Something:
another example…
M
352
C12
M
352
C12
op. 1
And one more…
M
1001
B414
op. 2
no. 1
M
1001
B414
op. 2
no. 1
c. 2
When shelving items
with additional
elements, the
“Nothing before
Something”
rule becomes very
important in a
different way.
All additional elements
are considered
“Nothing”.
You would then
consider Cutter
numbers “Something”.
M
23
B414
op. 27
no. 2
1923
M
23
B414
C7
Why are additional elements
considered “nothing”?
Additional elements are seen as extensions of the
Cutter number immediately preceding them.
You can look at it this way:
M
comes before
23
B414, op. 27, no. 2, 1983
M
23
B414
C23
Nothing comes before Something
M
23
B414
op. 7
M
23
B414
op. 10
M
23
B414
op. 57
M
23
B414
C7
M
23
B414
H38
Notice how the additional elements come before the Cutter numbers.
Also notice how the additional elements are filed in whole number order.
Another way to look at it…
M
23
B414, op. 7
M
23
B414, op. 10
M
23
B414, op. 57
M
23
B414
C7
Nothing comes before Something
M
23
B414
H38
One more example…
M
1630.1
R63
v. 1
M
1630.1
R63
v. 2
M
1630.1
R63
A13
M
1630.1
R63
A2
Nothing (additional elements) Something (Cutter no.’s)
Whole number order
Numbers read decimally
Remember…
a misshelved item, is a LOST item.
Always ask a staff member if you need help
shelving items in the library.
Thank you.