Transcript Library of Congress Classification An Introduction

Library of Congress Classification
An Introduction
Richard Sapon-White
Catalog Librarian, OSU
April 20, 2007
Overview
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Terminology
Basic LCCS Structure and Notation
Cuttering
Geographic Cutters
Tables
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Terminology
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Classification - a system of coding and
organizing library materials according to their
subject and assigning a call number to that
information resource.
Classification schedule - A printed volume
or machine-readable database that contains
classification numbers and captions, arranged
by subject in a logical, hierarchical manner;
also called classification scheme.
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Terminology (cont.)
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Call number – an alphanumeric
designation that uniquely identifies a
bibliographic item.
The call number is printed on a label
affixed to a bibliographic item so that
the item can be shelved and found.
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More on Call Numbers
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Consists of class number (also called
classification number) and a book
number (also called a Cutter
number)
Class number  subject of the work
Book number organizes works within a
class
May also include other information
(notably a date)
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Shelflisting
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Shelflist - A file of bibliographic records
arranged in the same order as the
corresponding materials on the shelves.
Shelflisting - Arranging materials within an
existing collection, generally by main entry;
and determining the book number and other
additions to the classification number
necessary to create a unique number for each
item.
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LCC Structure and Notation
LCC System Structure
21 classes using letters
A
General works
B
Philosophy. Religion
C
History: Aux. sciences
D
World history and
history of Europe, Asia,
Africa, etc.
E-F History of the Americas
G
Geography.
Anthropology. Recreation
H
Social sciences
J
Political science
K
Law
L
Education
M Music
N
Fine Arts
P
Language and literature
Q
Science
R
Medicine
S
Agriculture
T
Technology
U
Military science
V
Naval science
Z
Bibliography. Library
science. Info resources
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System Structure (cont.)
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Subclasses usually designated by a
second letter (exceptionally by a third in
D and K)
Q
Science (general)
QA
Mathematics
QB
Astronomy
QC
Physics
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System Structure
7 categories provide structure within each
schedule as well as within
subcategories
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Physical format
Philosophy
Study and teaching
General works
Laws and regulations
Juvenile works
Topical subdivisions
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Notational structure
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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
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Notational Structure (cont.)
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Note that classes use whole numbers
and are arranged in numerical order,
e.g.,
QH1
QH44
QH135
Biogeography
QH705
Natural history - Periodicals
Works about Linnaeus
Natural history –
– Europe – General works
Economic biology
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Notational structure (cont.)
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Decimal numbers are sometimes used
when topics are added
Example:
QC 81
Early works through 1800
General works, treatises, & textbooks
QC 815
1801-1969
QC 815.2
1970-
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Cutters and Cuttering
Cutters and Cuttering
Cutter number or Cutter
A method of representing words or names by using a
decimal point followed first by a letter of the
alphabet, then by one or more Arabic numerals. A
Cutter number is read and sorted as a decimal
number.
Named for Charles Ammi Cutter, who developed several
tables using letters and numbers to achieve an
alphabetical arrangement. Book numbers and some
subdivisions in the classification schedules are types
of Cutter numbers.
Example: Sapon-White  .S36
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Cutter Numbers in
Classification
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In LCCS, Cutter numbers are sometimes
used to subdivide classes
Most common: Geographic Cutters
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Cutter Numbers in
Classification (cont.)
Example:
Geomagnetism
QC 811-QC 849
Observatories
QC 818.A2
General works
QC 818.A5-Z By region or country, A-Z
A work on geomagnetism observatories in
Canada would be classed in QC818.C2
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Cutter Numbers in
Classification (cont.)
This results in two Cutter numbers for
complete call numbers:
1.
2.
Subclass division
Cutter for main entry
Example:
The geomagnetism observatories of Canada
/ by I.M. Lodestone.
QC818.C2 L64 2005
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Cutter Numbers in
Classification (cont.)
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Except in Class G, no more than two
Cutter numbers are allowed
In some cases, two Cutter numbers are
used in the classification schedules.
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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
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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
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Geographic Cutters
What are Geographic Cutters?
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Topics in classification schedules are
often subdivided geographically
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“By region or country”
“By region or state”
A Cutter is added to the class number
to complete the classification
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Geographic Cutters: Step 1
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Geographic Cutter numbers have been
assigned for all countries
SCM: Shelflisting
 G300 Regions and Countries Table
 G302 U.S. States and Canadian Provinces
Can also check Cataloging Calculator
http://calculate.alptown.com/
Czech Republic: C94
United States: U6
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Geographic Cutters: Step 2
Under each country:
.x
Periodicals. Societies. Congresses
.x2
General works
.x3A-.X3Z
Local, A-Z
HD9650.8.U6 Periodicals, etc. on chemical industries
in the U.S.
HD9650.8.U62
General works (non-serial) on
chemical industries in the U.S.
HD9650.8.U63
Works on chemical industries in a
locality in the U.S. Second Cutter represents locality.
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Example
Chemical industries in Prague / Josef
Chemický. 2005
HD9650.8.C943 P733 2005
HD9650.8 – chemical industries by country
.C943 – Czech Republic, local
P73 – Prague
3 for Chemický
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Tables
Introduction to Tables
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Used to subdivide topics
In print: appear in back of each volume
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References to specific tables appear in text
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Tables are numbered – be sure you are using
the correct table!
Add the number in the table to the number
printed in schedule
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Table in Print: Example 1
In the schedule
HD Special industries and trades
HD 9650-9660
Chemical industries (Table H19)
In Table H19 at back of volume (in part)
0.1
Periodicals. Societies. Serials
For manufacturer's associations formed with particular reference to labor
questions, see HD6941-6948
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
Yearbooks
Directories
Statistics, prices, etc.
General works. History
0.6
0.65
Public policy
Handbooks, manuals, etc.
Including biography
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Table in Print: Example 1
(cont.)
PROMT : Predicasts overview of markets and
technology. [serial]
1st subject heading: Chemical industry – Abstracts – Periodicals
HD9650 + 0.1 (Periodicals) = HD9650.1
The chemical industry and globalization / Roger F.
Jones, editor. 2006.
subject headings: Chemical industry.
Globalization.
HD9650 + 0.5 (General works) = HD9650.5
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Table in Print: Example 2
Taxation
0.8.A1
0.8.A2-Z
General works
By region or country, A-Z
Under each country:
.x
Periodicals*
.x2
General works
.x3A-.X3Z
Local, A-Z
*Periodicals. Societies. Serials
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Table in Print: Example 2
(cont.)
A book on taxation of chemical industries
in the United States by John Smith:
HD9650.8.U62 S65 2007
HD9650
.8
.U62
S65
2007
Chemical industries
Taxation
United States + General works
Smith
Date
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Tables in Classification Web
HD9650-9660
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Chemical industries
Table H19 [H R B L D S]
Clicking on hyperlinked text inserts table
into the class schedules!
Removes the need to do some class
“calculation”
Note the granularity of classification allowed
by the integration of tables
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For Further Information
Richard Sapon-White
Catalog Librarian
Oregon State University
[email protected]
541-737-7319
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