Library of Congress ClassificationAn Introduction

Richard Sapon-WhiteCatalog Librarian, OSU

April 20, 2007

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Overview

Terminology Basic LCCS Structure and Notation Cuttering Geographic Cutters Tables

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Terminology 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.)

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

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 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.

LCC Structure and Notation

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LCC System Structure21 classes using

lettersA General worksB Philosophy. ReligionC History: Aux. sciencesD World history and history of Europe, Asia, Africa, etc.E-F History of the AmericasG Geography. Anthropology. RecreationH Social sciencesJ Political scienceK Law

L EducationM MusicN Fine ArtsP Language and literatureQ ScienceR MedicineS AgricultureT TechnologyU Military scienceV Naval scienceZ Bibliography. Library science. Info resources

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System Structure (cont.)

Subclasses usually designated by a second letter (exceptionally by a third in D and K)Q Science (general)QA MathematicsQB AstronomyQC Physics

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System Structure

7 categories provide structure within each schedule as well as within subcategories

• Physical format• Philosophy• Study and teaching• General works• Laws and regulations• Juvenile works• Topical subdivisions

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Notational structure

Alphabetic subclasses are further divided by sequential cardinal numbers from 1 to 9999

Example:QC 1-75 Physics in generalQC 81-114 Weights and measuresQC 120-168.85 Descriptive and experimental mechanics

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Notational Structure (cont.)

Note that classes use whole numbers and are arranged in numerical order, e.g.,

QH1 Natural history - PeriodicalsQH44 Works about LinnaeusQH135 Natural history – Biogeography

– Europe – General works

QH705 Economic biology

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Notational structure (cont.)

Decimal numbers are sometimes used when topics are addedExample:

QC 81 Early works through 1800General works, treatises, &

textbooksQC 815 1801-1969

QC 815.2 1970-

Cutters and Cuttering

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Cutters and CutteringCutter number or CutterA 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

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

ObservatoriesQC 818.A2 General worksQC 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. Subclass division2. 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.) Except in Class G, no more than two

Cutter numbers are allowed In some cases, two Cutter numbers are

used in the classification schedules. 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 propagandaC24 sub-subclass for Canada; added

digit for Keshen1996 year of publication

Geographic Cutters

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What are Geographic Cutters?

Topics in classification schedules are often subdivided geographically “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 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: C94United States: U6

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Geographic Cutters: Step 2Under each country:

.x Periodicals. Societies. Congresses

.x2 General works

.x3A-.X3Z Local, A-ZHD9650.8.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 Chemicky. 2005

HD9650.8.C943 P733 2005HD9650.8 – chemical industries by

country.C943 – Czech Republic, localP73 – Prague 3 for Chemicky

Tables

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Introduction to Tables

Used to subdivide topics In print: appear in back of each

volume References to specific tables appear in

text 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 1In the schedule HD Special industries and tradesHD 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 Yearbooks   0.3 Directories 0.4 Statistics, prices, etc.  0.5 General works. History

Including biography0.6 Public policy 0.65 Handbooks, manuals, etc.

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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 General works 0.8.A2-Z 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 2007HD9650 Chemical industries.8 Taxation.U62 United States + General worksS65 Smith2007 Date

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Tables in Classification WebHD9650-9660 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-WhiteCatalog LibrarianOregon State Universityrichard.sapon-

white@oregonstate.edu541-737-7319