shelving with lcc

Slide1: 

Finding Books With Library of Congress Classification Wright College Library Reference Department Last revised 3/26/2007 7:35 pm Prepared by Daniel Stuhlman and the Wright College Library staff. Wright College is one of the City Colleges of Chicago ©2007

Using the LCC System 1: 

Using the LCC System 1 Cataloging using the Library of Congress Classification (LCC) is an exact process that requires subject and library knowledge. Finding books with LCC call numbers is easy. This tutorial was created to help library users uncover the mysteries of call number reading and finding books on the shelves.   

LC Classification Outline: 

LC Classification Outline A -- General Works B -- Philosophy. Psychology. Religion C -- Auxiliary Sciences Of History D -- World History And History Of Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Etc. E -- History Of The Americas (history of countries) F -- History Of The Americas (local histories) G -- Geography. Anthropology. Recreation H -- Social Sciences J -- Political Science K -- Law L -- Education M -- Music And Books On Music N -- Fine Arts P -- Language And Literature Q -- Science R -- Medicine S -- Agriculture T -- Technology U -- Military Science V -- Naval Science W -- used by the National Library of Medicine for health sciences Z -- Bibliography. Library Science. Information Resources (General)

Addresses: 

Addresses Call numbers are addresses based on the subjects of the book. Each book is classified based on its subject and the rest of the call number tells you exactly where on the shelf to find it. Items are arranged so that library users can quickly and easily find them. Let's start with a sample call number: QA 303.2 .A75 2003

Call Numbers Begin With Letters: 

Call Numbers Begin With Letters Call numbers begin with one, two, or three letters. The first letter of a call number represents one of the 21 major divisions of the LCC System that appear on slide 2. For example, "Q" is Science. The second letter “A" represents a subdivision of the sciences, Mathematics. The subject of books in the QA's are within the discipline of mathematics. Look at slide 2 for explanations of each category. Books in categories E, United States History, and F, Local U.S. History and American History, do not have a second letter (exception: in Canada, FC is used for Canadian history). Law books in the K's, have two letters for large jurisdictions (KF for United States) and three letters for smaller areas, such as KFI, Law of Illinois. Some areas of history (D) also have three-letter call numbers. Most other subject areas will have call numbers beginning with one or two letters. For most of the subject areas, the single letter represents books of the most general nature for that subject area (i.e. Q - General Science or D - General World History).

Location Designation: 

Location Designation Above the LCC part of the number may be a location designation such as “Ref” for reference or “oversize” for books too large to be on the regular shelves.

Numbers After Letters: 

Numbers After Letters On the second line is the first set of digits for a call number. They further refine the subject area. " 303.2" in the example tells the user that this is a book on calculus after 1960. Books with call numbers QE534.2 are specifically "Earthquakes, Seismology - General Works - 1970 to Present" In most large subject areas call number "1" which is often used for general periodicals in a given subject area. For example, Q1.S3 is the call number for the journal Science. Journals with more specific subjects are given call numbers based on their specific subject. For example, QA 303.2 .A75 2003 is the call number for the journal Earthquake Spectra as QE531 is the class number for periodicals about "Earthquakes, Seismology" Many libraries including Wright College Library do not classify periodicals.

Cutter Numbers: 

Cutter Numbers Within each subject books need to be arranged in an exact location. This order is based the alphabetical order of the author or main entry of the item. Charles Ammi Cutter developed cutter numbers using a two-number table. Cutter numbers may have one or more digits after the initial letter based on the needs of the library. Two digits are most common. After the first part of the cutter number a book that is translated from another language will get a language code. For example: If the cutter number is B64 for the original, the English translation will be B6415 In our example, QA 303.2 .A75 2003, the A75 represents the author's last name, Bill Armstrong. Some books have double Cutter numbers, the first one is usually a further refinement of the subject matter. For example, QA 76.76 H94 M88 is a book located in the Mathematics section of the Q's. QA 76 is about Computer Science. The ".76" indicates Special Topics in Automation. "H94" tells us that this is a book about HTML. "M88" represents the last name of the first author's last name, Musciano. The book is HTML: The Definitive Guide

Shelving and Locating: 

Shelving and Locating Items, shelved by call numbers, are ordered line by line. First, the books are arranged by alphabetical order. That means all the QA books are before the QB books no matter what follows the first line. Second, the numbers in the second line follow in numerical order. The numbers are followed as if they are decimals. That means 5 is followed by 6, 50 is after 49 and before 51, and 201 is after 2. Here is a sample order: A2, A22, A4, A453, A5, A53, A6, A63, A8 Generally cutter numbers do not end in “1” or “9.”

Dates, Volumes, and Copies: 

Dates, Volumes, and Copies Dates, volume, issue, and copy numbers, and other annotations are the last part of a call number. The dates help with arrangement of different editions of the same work. Copy numbers are used when the library owns multiple copies.

Sample Shelf List: 

Sample Shelf List

Shelf Location 1: 

Shelf Location 1 The roaring twenties : an eyewitness history / Tom Streissguth. Suppose that you are looking for this book. Below is the display from the online catalog (OPAC) E784 is the classification of the book. S76 is the cutter number and 2001 is the date of publication. [REF] above the class number is the location code meaning Reference section. The status tells you that the book can only be used within the library. WR means Wright College Library. Codes for other libraries: HW  Harold Washington MX   Malcolm X TR Harry Truman OH Olive Harvey DA Richard Daley KK Kennedy-King

Shelf Location 2: 

Shelf Location 2 Flesh and blood : the National Society of Film Critics on sex, violence, and censorship / edited by Peter Keough. This book is on reserve. That means a teacher requested that the book be placed behind the circulation desk and students need to request the book. Normally reserve books are limited to two-hour in library use only. Sometimes teachers allow books to circulate longer. “C. 2” on the last line of the call means this is copy 2.

Shelf Location 3: 

Shelf Location 3 This is a literature book. PR2807 is for Shakespeare, A2 is for the title and T46 represents the editor. The status on this item indicates that it is checked out and due on April 9, 2007.

Shelf Location 4: 

Shelf Location 4 The Library has two copies of this book. One is available on the shelf and the other was checked out in November 2006 and not yet returned. RA 776 is for the subject “health” and H434 is for the title main entry “health.”

Slide16: 

Finding Books With Library of Congress Classification Prepared by Daniel Stuhlman and the Wright College Library staff. Wright College is one of the City Colleges of Chicago ©2007 If you have any questions or comments on this presentation please direct them to the Wright College Library Reference Department 773-481-8420 or send e-mail to: dstuhlman@ccc.edu .