Transcript Library of Congress Classification

Library of Congress
Classification
Professor Yan Ma
Library of Congress Classification
Background:
 Is an American classification system of
the 19th century.
 It was designed and developed as a
utilitarian system for the use of the LC
only and was not based on any
pervasive philosophical system for
classification.
 It was not intended for any other library
other than LC.
Library of Congress Classification
Background:
 On August 24,1814, the LC was burned
by the British soldiers.
 Thomas Jefferson sold to Congress, his
personal library (6,487 books).
 Jefferson’s classification system was
based on Francis Bacon and d’Almbert
(see pages 3-4 in Immroth’s).
Library of Congress Classification
Background:
 By the 1890’s the Jefferson collection
grew from 7,000 books to nearly 1
million.
 James C. Hanson was appointed by LC
to study the possibilities of adopting a
new classification system.
 Hanson used Cutter Expansive
Classification when he was at the
University of Wisconsin Library.
Library of Congress Classification
Background:
 Cutter’s systems used subject classes
denoted by single letters with an
expansion to one or two additional
letters.
 Hanson revised and adapted the
system and used single letters but
expanded them numerically.
 This resulted in a mixed notation of
letters and numbers.
Library of Congress Classification
Background:
 LCC is comprehensive but not truly
universal at the present time.
 Expansion of the classification is
governed by and depends on the
acquisition of new material.
 During the 1960’s there was a trend
among academic libraries using DDC to
switch to LCC.
Library of Congress Classification
Reasons for the Trend:
 1. The basic orientation of LCC.
 2. Economic advantage -- libraries
simply copy the whole call numbers as
they appear on the LC cataloging
records.
 3. Increasing ease where libraries can
bring up full LC records online and add
them to their own catalog databases.
Library of Congress
Classification
 Classes: (Table) there are 21 main
classes printed in 47 separate
schedules. Single letters.
 Subclasses: (Table) Each of the main
classes except E, F, Z is divided into
subclasses that represent disciplines or
major branches of the main class.
Double or triple letters.
Library of Congress
Classification
 Divisions: A subclass is further divided into
divisions that represent components of the
subclass.
 QD23.3
Arabic numbers from 1 - 9999.
 Further subdivision is by Cutter numbers,
book number and the year of publication.

Z
8587
.8
.A46
1990
LB
1715
.G53
1991
Library of Congress
Classification
 Cutter Table: Letter not included in the
table are assigned the next higher/lower
number as required by previous assignments
in the particular class.
 Classifiers are advised never to end a Cutter
number with “1” or “0”, either can result in
unnecessary decimal extensions.
 No LC call number contains more than 2
Cutter numbers.
Cutter Number -Purposes:
 1. Class Number
 2. Item or book number (based on the
main entry).
 A cutter number consists of a capital
letter followed by an Arabic number.
 .T7 , .T7324 , .T745 , .T8
 .A52 or .A599 precedes .A6
Cutter Numbers - Single Cutter Number: Is assigned
based on the main entry when no
instruction is given using a Cutter
number to represent part of the subject.
 Double Cutter Number: The first is
used to bring out an aspect (form,
period, place, etc.) The second Cutter
number is the book number (based on
the M.E. of the work).
Cutter Numbers -Topical Cutter Numbers: Used to bring out
subtopics under a subject.
111 Heart
112
Study and teaching. Research
research technique
.4 General
.5 Special, A-Z
.C3 Cardiology
.E4 Electro-cardiology
.E46 Electro-physiology
.N83 Nuclear magnetic resonance
.R6 Radiography
Cutter Numbers - “A” and “Z” Cutter Numbers: The
Cutter “A” number is used most
frequently for form divisions such as
periodicals or official publications, and
the “Z” Cutter numbers are often
assigned to special divisions of the
subject: for biography and criticism of a
literary author for instance.
Cutter Numbers - “A” and “Z” Cutter Numbers:
RA
PUBLIC ASPECTS OF MEDICINE
Nursing homes. Long-term care facilities
By region or country
General and United States
997.A1A-Z
Periodicals. Societies. Serials
.A15A-Z
Congresses
.A2A-Z
Directories
.A3-Z General Works
Cutter Numbers - “A” and “Z” Cutter Number Examples:
 .A1 , .A15 , .A2 have all been assigned special
meanings.
 .A3-Z means all Cutter numbers except .A1 & .A2.
 A treatise on this subject by author, Abell, which
normally would be cuttered “.A2.”will receive a
Cutter number greater than .A3.
 In “.A1A-Z,” the “A-Z” stands for the second Cutter
Number (book number) based on M.E. i.e
RA997.A1J68.
 This is different from .A3-Z, which indicates the range
used as the first Cutter number. i.e. RA997.R6 (not
RA997.A3R6).
Successive Cutter Numbers -Refers to a series of Cutter numbers (i.e. C5, C6, C7)
or decimal extensions of a Cutter number.
RA
PUBLIC ASPECTS OF MEDICINE
Medical centers. Hospitals. Dispensaries. Clinics.
By country
984
Other American countries, A-Z
Under each(using successive Cutter numbers):
(1) General works
(2) Government hospitals
(3) States, provinces, etc., A-Z
(4) Cities, etc., A-Z
e.g. Mexico
.M3 General works
.M4 Government hospitals
.M5 States, A-Z
.M6 Cities, A-Z
Date in LC Call Numbers -Selecting the Appropriate Date:
Date in Bibliog. Records
1976?
ca. 1976
1981, c1980
1979 [i.e. 1978]
1962 or 1963
1969 (1973 printing)
1980 printing, c1957
1979 (distributed) 1980
1979-1981
1979-1981
Date in Call Number
1976
1976
1981
1978
1962
1969
1957
1979
1979
1981(if congress or
conference heading)
between 1977 and 1980
1978/79
1977
1978
Notes: Scope Notes,
Confer Notes, Like Notes, Etc.
 Pre-coordinated: When a heading contains
more than one concept, either in the form of a
phrase heading or heading with subdivisions - it is called a pre-coordinated heading. (at
the point of storage).
 Post-coordinated: Combination of individual
concepts into compound or complex subjects
at the point of retrieval.
Versions of Library
of Congress Classification:
 Print Version: There are 21 main classes
printed in 40 separate schedules. Printed in
47 volumes. Each updated separately.
 LCC: Additions and Changes: quarterly
updates of class numbers--difficult to use.
 SUPERLCCS: (Gale publication). 47
volumes that combines each base schedule
with the additions and changes for that
schedule. Although much easier to use than
Additions and Changes, there are errors.
Versions of Library
of Congress Classification:
 CD-ROM Version: Classification Plus:
Published quarterly by LC, it provides LCC
schedules with hyperlinks between LCC and
LCSH.
 SUPERLCCS: (Gale publication). Costs at
least $3,500 for a single version. It is limited
in comparison to Classification Plus because
it does not include LCSH. It may contain the
same errors in the print version.
Other Helpful Resources for
Assigning Call Numbers:
 Subject Cataloging Manual: Shelf-listing
(by LC)
 It is an indispensable tool for completing LCC
call numbers.
 An authoritative source for assigning Cutter
numbers, applying LC filing rules, using dates
in the call numbers, and classifying
biographies, translations, etc.
 It is a must to become familiar with this
resource.
Other Helpful Resources for
Assigning Call Numbers:
 Library of Congress Subject Headings or
LC Subject Authority File
 Some LCSH entries include LCC class
numbers or class number ranges.
 Doing your LCSH subject analysis first may
lead you to a suitable call number.
 LC Name Authority File
 Authority records for many literary authors
contain LCC class numbers.
Other Helpful Resources for
Assigning Call Numbers:
 Your Bibliographic Utility
 You can check the OCLC online Union
Catalog for records for other editions for the
work you are cataloging to see if those
records contain call numbers.
 Searching by author when cataloging a work
will allow you to look for call numbers in the
records for other works by that author.
 It will save you time if you adjust your search
strategy to yield records that can help you.
Other Helpful Resources for
Assigning Call Numbers:
 Your Catalog
 You can search by subject to see where your
library has classed other works on the same
subject you are cataloging.
 Bibliography of the Work you are
Cataloging
 Check the citations in the bibliography for
works on the same topic as the work in hand.
 Search your catalog for those works to see if
call numbers are included.
Other Helpful Resources for
Assigning Call Numbers:
 Subject Cataloging Manual: Classification
 Not as useful on a day-to-day basis as you
might expect.
 It is more of an in-house tool for catalogers at
LC, though , the sections on special topics
might be useful occasionally.
 Sections on the history of LCC and general
principles of classification are useful and
interesting.
Simplified Principles of LCC:
 (Abridged from Subject Cataloging Manual:
Classification -- Section F10 and Subject
Cataloging: Subject Headings -- Section H80
Order of Subject Headings).
 1. Class a work by the most specific subject
that fits it, not by form under a broader
subject.
 2. When given a choice, class by a specific
subject rather than by place unless precedent
to the contrary exists in your catalog.
Simplified Principles of LCC:
 3. When a work discusses several subjects,
follow the most relevant of these guidelines:
 a. Follow instructions in the schedules.
 b. Class by the dominant subject.
 c. If no subject is dominant, class by the first
mentioned.
 d. Class by a broader subject if the subjects
in the work form a part of it.
Simplified Principles of LCC:
 4. If more than one number applies, follow
precedent in your catalog.
 5. Generally match the class number to the
first subject heading you assign to a work.
Rules of Thumb for LCC:
 Don’t Agonize:
 Some class numbers fit better than others.
 If you find yourself in a lengthy search for the
perfect class number -- chances are it doesn’t
exist.
 Do the best job you can at the moment and
move on to the next work.
Rules of Thumb for LCC:
 Take the Time to Learn it Right:
 When you are learning to use LCC, take the
time to familiarize yourself with the schedules,
the shelf-listing principles in the LC manual,
and the AACR2 rules and L of C Rule of
Interpretations that impact the creation of
numbers.
 Taking a little extra time at first will make you
more efficient in the long run.
Rules of Thumb for LCC:
 Don’t go to the Schedules first if you
don’t have to:
 Going to the LCC schedules may not be the
quickest way for you to find a given class
number.
 Remember to use ALL the resources at hand
to find class numbers.
 The best way is the easiest way.
Rules of Thumb for LCC:
 When using a Schedule, keep your
eyes open for schedules:
 Check to see if a table applies to the section
of the schedule you are working in.
 Flip back to the beginning of the section and
look for footnotes to see if the number you
are using is affected by a table.
Rules of Thumb for LCC:
 When using a Schedule, don’t forget
the index:
 The index at the back of the schedule can be
a great help in locating a class number.
 Try searching the index by an LCSH term if
you have one, but be prepared to look under
other terms as well.
Rules of Thumb for LCC:
 Classify for YOUR Catalog:
 You are not cataloging in a vacuum.
 Classify materials so that they fit your library’s
collection.
 Your library hired you to provide a service that
only someone familiar with the collection can
provide--otherwise, someone who has never
seen your collection could do your job.
Library of Congress Classification
 Pros:
 Cons:
 An American System
 Classification by
disciplines.
 Notation of mixed
letters and Arabic
numbers.
 Lack of mnemonic aids.
 No single index.
 Based on literary
warrant.
 It is expensive to update.
 Scope notes are not as
good as those in DDC.
Literary Warrant
The term means that the schedules of a
classification system have been developed
with reference to the published literature, in
other words, based on what the actual
literature itself warrants.
In the case of the LCC, Literary Warrant refers
specifically to the LC Collection.