Oct. 2005
LC CLASSIFICATION POLICIES
A. INDEXES
B. PARALLEL TEXTS
C. LITERARY AUTHORS: NAMES & CLASS NUMBERS
D. LITERARY AUTHORS: SUBARRANGEMENT OF WORKS
E. OTHER MATERIALS in Subject Cataloging Manual: Classification
A. INDEXES
See Subject Cataloging Manual: Classification F610.
1) Classify indexes to individual publications (including serials) with the work being indexed.
Following AACR2, an index may be covered by a note in the bibliographical record for the main
work, or by a statement in the physical description area (300) of the main work, or by a statement in the
contents note for the main work or it may be catalogued separately.
2) Classify indexes to the publications of an individual author in the biography and criticism number
for that author (or in a more specific number under the author, if such a number is provided).
3) Classify indexes to the publications of an individual society in Z1201-7999 with bibliographies on
the topic in which the organization specializes. McGill exception: For Music Library, do not reclass
items classed in M.
4) Classify comprehensive indexes to lists of two or more books or serials on a single topic in Z12017999 as bibliography on the topic. McGill exception: For Music Library, do not reclass items classed in
M.
B. PARALLEL TEXTS
See Cataloging Service Bulletin, Summer, 1975.
Treat publications that contain both the original text and a translation as translations of the work.
C. LITERARY AUTHORS: NAMES & CLASS NUMBERS
See Subject Cataloging Manual: Classification F632.
i) NAME CHANGES.
Normally, all works of literature by an individual literary author and works about that author are
classed together in the same number or span of numbers in Class P, regardless of the number of names
under which the person may be entered and regardless of any changes in the form of heading for the
person.
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LC adopted AACR2 on January 2, 1981. In some cases, the AACR2 form of a literary author's
name is significantly different from the form used previously. LC continues to use the author number(s)
based on the earlier form of the name.
When an author’s name changes due to a change in marital status, LC continues to use the
existing literary author number.
LC follows the above policy for composers also.
Twain, Mark, 1835-1910
was Clemens, Samuel Langhorne, 1835-1910 (PS1300-1348)
Tchaikovsky, Peter Ilich, 1840-1893
was Chaikovskii, Petr Ilich, 1840-1893 (M1001.C44)
ii) PSEUDONYMS.
In 1973, LC began to establish living authors under their pseudonyms instead of their real names.
If LC had more than 15 entries under a literary author's real name, LC did not change the author number
to file under the author’s pseudonym; thus, the author number files under the author's real name
although the author is entered under pseudonym.
LC classes works by or about an author who writes under several pseudonyms in the single
number that has been established for that author.
053 PS3566.A34
Paine, Lauran
iii) AUTHORS WRITING IN MORE THAN ONE LANGUAGE.
LC may establish multiple numbers or spans of numbers for authors who write in more than one
language. Until September 1998, LTS established only one number or one span of numbers for such an
author. Beginning in September 1998, LTS accepts multiple numbers as found on LC copy.
LC guidelines
1) Translations and critical studies of individual works. Class with the original work.
2) Collective criticism of several works. Class according to the language of the group of works
studied.
3) General criticism and biography. Class in the one predetermined number that best represents
the total literary output of the author.
D. LITERARY AUTHORS: SUBARRANGEMENT OF WORKS
i) Collections. Use the number range applicable to collections only for collections of works that were
previously published separately or never published in the author’s lifetime.
• Collected works: Use for complete (or largely complete) works.
2
• Collected fiction, collected essays, etc.: Use for complete (or largely complete) works in one genre if
author has written in two or more genres.
• Selected works: If such a number is provided in the table, use for two or more complete works when
these works represent less than the author's entire literary output.
• Translations: Use for translations of collections, including collected works, selected works,
selections, collected plays, collected poems, etc., unless more specific provisions have been made.
• Selections: If both Selected works and Selections are provided for in the table, use for isolated
excerpts, quotations, etc. from various works. If only Selections are provided for in the table, use for
both types of material.
ii) Separate works. Use for individual works and for collections of poems, stories, etc. that are being
published for the first time while the author is still living.
E. OTHER MATERIALS: See the numbered sections of the Subject Cataloging Manual:
Classification indicated below for instructions on handling the materials indicated.
F600. Geneology
F603. Government Documents. (Provides guidance on how to apply special provisions for documents in
those schedules where they occur.)
F605. Government Officials’ Biographies, Speeches and Papers
F615. Juvenile Materials
F618. Legislative Hearings and Reports
F620. Library of Congress Publications
F630. Library Resources
F632. Literary Authors
F633. Literary Authors: Subarrangement of Works
F634. Literary Collections
F635. Local Court Records
F710. Software
F730. Teaching of Particular Subjects (Elementary and/or secondary levels)
F750. Washington (D.C.)
Written by: Barbara Finlay
Last revised:October 2005
DOCUMENT STATUS
3
Filename
lcclassification
Author
Barbara Finlay
Revised by Marc Richard.
October 2005.
Keywords
cataloguing, call, numbers
Action required
Uploaded to web site by
Joseph Hafner
Date
completed
Oct. 19, 2005
Date assigned
Oct. 19, 2005
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