Includes Call Numbers II, section 1, manual pages II-1 thru II-6
The purpose of this document is to give some general guidelines on constructing call numbers according to the Library of Congress practice and to document Cataloging Department policy on how this practice is to be applied.
For a more detailed presentation of how LC applies its own classification and cuttering, see the Subject Cataloging Manual, Shelflisting, which is available in the Cataloging Department Shelflist area.
A Library of Congress call number for a monograph usually consists of three elements: (1) the classification number; (2) the cutter number; and (3) the date. (A call number for a serial contains only the first two elements in the bibliographic record.)
When using Library of Congress cataloging copy, it is the Cataloging Department's general policy to accept the call number as it appears in the record. Exceptions to this policy are set forth in General Call Number Policy. Accept 050 LC call numbers as they appear in cataloging records even if the numbers are constructed according to a superseded practice, e.g., do not add a date to the call number of a monograph if it is missing. When using contributed copy (NUC), accept LC-type call numbers in the 090 field; however, check that the cutter number in the subfield $b is formulated according to the latest revised version of the LC cutter table, and adjust it if it is not.
The classification number consists of one, two or three capital letters representing the major subject field of the piece and one or more Arabic numerals representing the more specific subject. The published Library of Congress classification schedules are used to determine these. A master set of LC schedules, including cumulative updates, is kept in the shelflist area. Note that the classification may include a subarrangement, i.e., a topical, geographic or biographical cutter.
In the schedules it is necessary to be cautious in the use of "divide like" notes referring from one number to another number for a pattern subarrangement. Detailed subdivisions of subjects are often treated by the use of auxiliary tables, e.g., (1) general or literary forms, (2) geographic, (3) chronological, (4) subject subdivisions consisting of alphabetical lists of special topics, and (5) a combination of the various tables. Follow directions in using such tables carefully.
The cutter number (or book number) distinguishes a particular work from others in the same class. Use the latest revised version of the Library of Congress cutter number table as given in the Subject Cataloging Manual, Shelflisting, G 060, p. 26, and as posted in the shelflist area. Library of Congress cutter numbers are usually composed of the initial letter of the main entry heading, generally followed by two Arabic numerals representing the succeeding letters of the heading.
When cuttering for main entries beginning with numerals, use the cutters A12-A19, so that these will precede any alphabetic titles cuttered to "A" in the classification number.
Cutter numbers are decimal, thus allowing for infinite interpolation of the decimal principle. Unless absolutely necessary, do not use "1" as a cutter, since using this digit can block normal arrangement of the alphabetic file. Since the tables provide only a general framework for the assignment of classification numbers, the cutter number(s) for a particular name or work is constant only within a single class.
REMINDER: LC now arranges surnames beginning with M', Mc and Mac as they are spelled; this treatment will therefore affect the cuttering for such names when they form part of a call number. See the Subject Cataloging Manual, Shelflisting, Section G 100 for details.
Although the Cataloging Department's original aim was to preserve alphabetical order in the shelflist, superimposition of the LC cuttering system over UCLA's local cuttering system does not allow the cataloger to do this in many classification areas. If the item does not fall into one of the Exceptions to LC Practice and there is no special cuttering request from a non-cataloging unit or bibliographer, the cataloger should not strive for alphabetical order in the shelflist but should follow LC's own cuttering practice as set forth in the Subject Cataloging Manual, Shelflisting. This also applies to all editions and translations, regardless of any previously established call number in the shelflist. Make no special attempt to keep all manifestations of a work together unless specifically requested. ACCEPT THE LC CALL NUMBER UNLESS THERE IS A CONFLICT.
UCLA's current policy, effective May 16, 1983, is to add the date of publication to the call number for all monographs. This is in keeping with LC's implementation of the same policy, as announced in Cataloging Service Bulletin 19 (Winter 1982) and as modified in Cataloging Service Bulletin 41 (Summer 1988).
(From Subject Cataloging Manual, Shelflisting, G 140, p. 1)
1976? ; use 1976
ca. 1976 ; use 1976
1981, c1980 ; use 1981
1971, c1972 ; use 1972
1979 [i.e. 1978] ; use 1978
1962 or 1963 ; use 1962
1969 (1973 printing) ; use 1969
1980 printing, c1957 ; use 1957
1979 [distributed] 1980 ; use 1979
1979-1981 ; use 1979
between 1977 and 1980 ; use 1977
1978/79 [i.e. 1978 or 1979] ; use 1978
1977 (cover 1978) ; use 1978
197- ; use 1970z [if corporate body, use 1970]
197-? ; use 1970z [if corporate body, use 1970]
19-- ; use 1900z [if corporate body, use 1900]
19--? ; use 1900z [if corporate body, use 1900]
Below is listed the shelflist order to be constructed according to the guidelines in the Subject Cataloging Manual, Shelflisting. Be cautious when checking newly created entries against those already existing in our shelflist. Because of former policies, as well as current local practices for certain specified areas, you may not discern this same "correct" order when going through our shelflist. Unless otherwise called for, apply the guidelines of theSubject Cataloging Manual, Shelflisting regardless of how the new entries may interfile with those already existing.
(Subject Cataloging Manual, Shelflisting, G 140, p. 3)
original work cutter and date .L55 1952
facsimile or photocopy cutter and date .L55 1952a
of original work with a (.L55 1952aa, ab, etc.)
edition or reprint cutter and date .L55 1967
facsimile or photocopy cutter and date .L55 1967a
of edition of edition with a (.L55 1967aa, ab,
etc.)
translation cutter expanded by .L5513 1963
12-19 and date (English translation)
abridgement or cutter expanded by .L552 1980
condensed version 2 and date .S6L552 1980
translation of cutter expanded by .L55213 1982
abridgement or 212-219 and date (English
condensed version translation)
selection cutter expanded by .L5525 1981
25 and date .S6L5525 1981
translation of cutter expanded by .L552513 1982
selection 2512-2519 and date (English
translation)
criticism cutter expanded by .L553T5 1976
3 or 3-39 and date .S6L5537 1976
Use the imprint date. If another edition is received with the same imprint date, add a letter starting with "b".
.I33 1982 .I33 1982b .I33 1982c (etc.)
If another edition, already cataloged, was one that should have had a date, add a date to the one in hand; do not make a call number correction for one already done. The date in the call number for a reprint edition is the imprint date of the new edition.
Use the imprint date. If another work by the same corporate body issued in the same year is received, add a letter starting with "a". For a photocopy, see PHOTOCOPIES (CATALOGING DEPT. ONLY).
.R37 1981 .R37 1981a .R37 1981b (etc.)
If necessary, for an edition published in the same year by the same corporate author, double the lower-case letter.
If a work is classed in an area that is subarranged by date only, do not add another date to the call number. Instead, add a letter starting with "a" to the date.
CD 1106 1918 CD 1106 1918a (etc.)
Although a date appears as part of the classification number, the imprint date should also be added to the call number.
GV 722 1952 .W4 1981
Add the date of the original work and the letter "a" to the call number for a commercially-produced photocopy.
.U54 1952 .U54 1952a .U54 1952aa, ab (etc.)
For a photocopy made on campus or otherwise non-commercially, use the call number of the original work without the "a" in the date.
Most "facsimiles" are actually reprints. For adding dates to call numbers for these types of reprints, see EDITION OR REPRINT.
For a true facsimile (i.e., exact reproduction of all the physical aspects of the original work), add the date of the original work and the letter "a" to the call number.
The date in the call number of a multiple volume set is that of the first volume. Lacking that, the date of the first volume at hand is used.
If the date in the call number needs to include a month, the following three-letter abbreviations are used:
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Do not add a publication date to call numbers for serials in the bibliographic record. For other exceptions to constructing call numbers for serial publications, see G 1000 of the LC Shelflisting Manual.
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Last updated: 24 October, 1995
Maintained by Cataloging Department, Charles E. Young Research Library, UCLA. Louise Ratliff, Editor lratliff@library.ucla.edu