Library of Congress Classification An Introduction

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Library of Congress ClassificationAn Introduction

• Richard Sapon-White
• Catalog 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.

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LCC Structure and Notation
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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.)

• 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
• 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 general
• QC 81-114 Weights and measures
• QC 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 - Periodicals
• QH44 Works about Linnaeus
• QH135 Natural history Biogeography Europe
  General works
• QH705 Economic biology

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Notational structure (cont.)

• 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
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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

• 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
• 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.)

• 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 Canadas 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
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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 C94
• United States U6

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Geographic Cutters Step 2

• Under each country
• .x Periodicals. Societies. Congresses .x2 Gener
  al 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 Chemicky.
  2005
• HD9650.8.C943 P733 2005
• HD9650.8 chemical industries by country
• .C943 Czech Republic, local
• P73 Prague
• 3 for Chemicky

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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 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 Yearbooks  
• 0.3 Directories 
• 0.4 Statistics, prices, etc.  
• 0.5 General works. History
• Including biography
• 0.6 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 2007
• HD9650 Chemical industries
• .8 Taxation
• .U62 United States General works
• S65 Smith
• 2007 Date

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Tables in Classification Web

• HD9650-9660 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-White
• Catalog Librarian
• Oregon State University
• richard.sapon-white_at_oregonstate.edu
• 541-737-7319