Page History

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Unit: Cataloging

Date last updated: 10 08/0407/20162017

Date of next review: August 2017

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   A1 A1

   Olin and Uris Library: A-P classification shelved in Olin ; Q-Z shelved in Uris Library.
   

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   A2 A2

   Obsolete and locally invented class numbers

   As a general rule, do not use obsolete or locally invented class numbers. For later editions of works originally classified at these numbers, use the call number of the earlier edition OR assign a new, valid call number, whichever is easiest. If all works by an author previously processed at Cornell are in the cancelled ranges of PR for Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India or Africa, you have the option of continuing to use that classification.

   Historically, LTS Olin catalogers constructed skeletal call numbers consisting of classification letters for the areas of law not yet developed by LC and added a cutter for the main entry. These call numbers should now be used only for later editions of works originally classified at the skeleton K numbers.

   See Call Number Examples    for the format of a skeletal call number.

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   Materials out of scope

   Do not use this procedure to classify and shelflist the following types of materials:

     

   Category	Comments
   Accession numbers	Some types of materials (e.g. microforms, videorecordings, and sound recordings) are assigned "accession type" numbers at certain locations. When assigning accession numbers, catalogers should use the automated media shelflisting system, CLAMSS. See also  LTS Procedure #24 , Computer Disk Processing, LTS Procedure #33, Processing Videorecordings, LTS Procedure #17 , Sound Recordings Processing and LTS Procedure #28a , Microform Processing for details.
   Archival materials	RMC and Kheel Center use local classification systems.
   Congressional hearings	See Exception in LTS Procedure #4
   Cornell theses	See LTS Procedure #16 , Theses Processing
   Materials eligible for fast processing or fast cuttering	Refer to the Fastcat (LTS Procedure #4) and Non-Fastcat Copy Cataloging (LTS Procedure #35) procedures as appropriate.
   Selected materials in GV1580-GV1799.4 (Dance), M (Music)	Call numbers in the range GV1580-GV1799.4 should not be added to the Olin collection, but rather should be cataloged for the Music Library. Also for Music Library, see exception for certain call number ranges in LTS Procedure #4. Books classed in GV and M/ML in vernacular Asian languages (e.g. Tagalog, Indonesian, Chinese) should be cataloged for Kroch Asia. All materials in the scores format are sent to Music Library regardless of the language of the text.

   
    

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   Classifications located in Annex

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   C1 C1

   General considerations  
   
   • In general, create new main entry cutters using the LC Cutter Table . Refer to Call numbers: General considerations   (above) as needed. You may also use the Cutter Sanborn Table in some cases. Refer to Cutter Sanborn Cutters and LTS Olin Historical Practices in attached Appendix. Exception: RMC catalogers continue to use the Cutter-Sanborn tables for Cuttering all monographs that use LC classification.
   • Generally use at least two digits for a Cutter for main entry. (This differs from LC practice, where one digit book cutters are sometimes used.) This practice also applies when the main entry is a title.
   • If using the Cutter Sanborn table and historical practices , prefer one digit in an additional Cutter for title (i.e., not a Cutter for a title as main entry as in the previous paragraph) unless there is a conflict (e.g. P-PZ Table XL: Separate works. By title).
   • Prefer one digit for any other type of cataloger-supplied Cutter, but you may choose to use two digits, even in cases where there is no conflict, in order to avoid possible future conflicts (e.g. By city, A-Z).

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   Subarrangement by Main Entry  
   
   • Uniqueness: Generally, an item is given a unique call number by the addition of a Cutter for the main entry, also known as a book Cutter. The main entry may be a personal name, corporate name, title, or uniform title.
   • No additional subdivision by main entry: Most class numbers (including combinations of a class number plus one or two topical or geographic Cutters) should be further subarranged by main entry, although the schedules generally do not explicitly tell the cataloger to do this. However, if the schedule specifies subdivision "by date", there should not be any additional subdivision by main entry. Do not add an additional Cutter for main entry (nor expansion digits if there are already two Cutters).

     Example: By date of election: JK1968 |b 2000 (for the 2nd work published in 2000, use JK1968 2000b) See section on letter extensions in existing call numbers.)
                     Censuses, by date: HA944 |b 1991
     

   • Subarranged by date and main entry: In certain rare places in the LC schedules, the class number may be followed by the original date of publication or event, subarranged by author with a further date to indicate date of publication.

     Example: By original date of publication, then by author, with a further date for current date of publication: GV722 1904 |b .M38 2005

   • Expansion of second cutter: A call number may not include more than two Cutters (except for maps and atlases in the G schedule). If the schedule specifies two geographic and/or topical Cutters, items should be subarranged by main entry by the expansion of the second Cutter (addition of digits to the geographic or topical Cutter to represent the first letter(s) of the main entry). The additional digits are based on the "expansion" line of the LC Cutter Table (modified as necessary to avoid shelflist conflicts).

     Example: Katz, Elaine N. A trade union aristocracy. HD6870.5.Z8 T74 1976
     T7 is for Transval; the cutter is extended with 4 for Katz
     
     

   • Preferred Shelflist Order--Individual Authors: When works of an individual author are filed in a single class number, they are arranged in the order given in the Subject Cataloging Manual (SCM): Shelflisting, G60. The most common application of the Preferred Shelflist Order--Individual Authors occurs when someone writes two different works on the same topic.
     

     Example: HF5549.5.D7 F39 1999 (Fay, John. Drug testing)
                     HF5549.5.D7 F394 2000 (Fay, John. Workplace intervention)

     In cases where the work arriving second happens to file alphabetically before the first work, the cutter is adjusted to preserve alphabetical order by title:

     Example: HF5549.5.D7 H639 1997 (Hoffmann, John P. (John Patrick), 1962-  An analysis of worker drug use and workplace policies)
                     HF5549.5.D7 H64 1996 (Hoffmann, John P. (John Patrick), 1962- Drug use among U.S. workers)
     

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   Established Cutters or Cutters Limited by LC Convention  
   

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     Topical Cutters in the narrow sense -- e.g. "Special subjects, A-Z", "By subject, A-Z", etc.

     Current LC practice is to establish all topical Cutters of this type . (See SCM: Classification, F350).  LTS catalogers, this means that you cannot make up a topical cutter yourself!
     

     It is no longer LC practice to use a representative sample of topical Cutters preceded by "e.g.". Ignore any remaining occurrences of "e.g.", and consider the Cutters that follow them to be established.

     In case of conflict, a topical Cutter established in a schedule takes precedence over a Cutter from any other source. In rare instances, for example, if a new classification is being proposed in conjunction with an original SACO proposal, it may be desirable to submit a classification proposal to LC.  Start here: http://classificationweb.net/Menu/proposal.html and ask NACO/SACO coordinator for further help as appropriate.
     

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     Cutters specified in the classification schedules but not established  

     Personal names (except those literary authors required to be established by SCM: Classification, F632)
     Corporate names
     Geographic names
     Names of languages (when a topic is subarranged by language)
     Titles of individual works (except for literary works required to be established by F632)

     Includes the captions: "Biography: Individual, A-Z", "Individual artists, A-Z", "Individual firms, A-Z", "By region or country, A-Z", "Other cities, towns, etc., A-Z", "By language, A-Z", etc.

     Instructions to subdivide by these types of Cutters are given in the schedule, but generally the Cutters themselves are not given. It is not necessary to establish them.

     Occasionally, Cutters of these types are given in the schedules. In case of conflict between the schedule and the LTS Olin shelflist, follow the schedule.

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     C3c C3c

     Topical/Geographic Cutters that are part of the classification  

     Topical Cutters are created using the LC Cutter Table (SCM: Shelflisting, G60.3), except for the following two categories of geographic Cutter which have their own tables. Other types of geographic Cutter, however, such as cities, provinces, or regions within a country, are created using the LC Cutter Table.

     Special geographic Cutters
     Table G300 -- Regions and countries ("By region or country A-Z")
     Table G302 -- American states and Canadian provinces

     "Regions" in SCM: Shelflisting, G300 refers to regions that are larger than a single country, and to groups of islands, e.g. Galapagos Islands, that are isolated from the country that they belong to. "Countries" refers to sovereign nations, and includes historical entities that do not correspond to a current existing country, e.g. Byzantine Empire. G300 does not include regions or historical entities that fall entirely within a currently existing country.

     The tables in G300 and G302, like the LC Cutter Table, are intended only as guides for shelflisting. If Cutters from the table are in conflict with Cutters already in the shelflist, the Cutters from the table should be modified.

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     Creating Cutters when the LC Cutter Table cannot be used  
     
     Numeric Cutters-- Cutters for main entries beginning with a numeral (i.e. "12" as opposed to "twelve").

     The Cutter range A12-A19 is normally used for main entries that begin with numerals so that they will file before entries beginning with the letter A. They are arranged in numerical order (See filing rules SCM: Shelflisting, G100.13).

     Cuttering ranges other than A-Z

     There are many places in the schedules where Cutters are created in ranges other than "A-Z". Schemes for two of the most common cases are given below . In other cases, the arrangement of the Cutters must be estimated.

    

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Scheme given in SCM: Shelflisting, G320 for "Individual biography, interviews and criticism, A6-Z" in the Biography Table

Separate works, by title: xA61-Z458

 A frequency weighted scheme for "Individual titles, A61-Z458" in the Individual Literary Author Table XL

Type 2.  Individual biography class numbers Special biography class numbers for individuals who are likely to have biographical works written about them, but may or may not appear as main entry on works of their own creation or have critical works written about them (e.g. historical personages). Biography tables generally include collected and selected works, autobiographical works, biography and general criticism. Individual works by these people are classified with the subject of the work (along with criticism of the individual work).

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Weighted scheme based on averages of actual usage in LC records:

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   When to use pre-October 1997 practice for cuttering

   Before October 1997, most Cutters were created using the Cutter-Sanborn Table rather than the LC Cutter Table, and some CUL practices involving editions, translations, criticism and the Preferred Shelflist Order for Individual Authors differed from LC practice. For more information, consult the now defunct Procedure #11, Shelflisting: general cataloging and classification procedures, rev. March 1994 (paper copy available in the Catalog Reference Collection).

   Use judgment and the guidelines in this section when deciding whether to continue using Cutters and patterns established in the shelflist before October 1997 to assign call numbers to new items.

   A call number with non-standard elements, such as Cutter-Sanborn Cutters, should not be used in the 050: 4: field when the record is submitted through BIBCO.

    

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   Using pre-existing Cutter-Sanborn Cutters on new items

   Judgment Calls

   Category	Comments
   Literary author, artist and musician Cutters	If a Cutter-Sanborn Cutter for a literary author, artist or musician has been used in the local shelflist, you have the option of continuing to class works at the Cutter- Sanborn Cutter, even if the LC Cutter has also been used in the local shelflist. This includes cases where CUL has classified the individual at a different country or time period from the one chosen by LC (e.g. CUL classes Picasso with Spanish artists and LC classes him with French artists).
   -Language Cutters -Corporate body main entry Cutters	If a Cutter-Sanborn Cutter of one of these types appears in the local shelflist, and the LC Cutter is not known (i.e. it does not appear in the classification schedule or in the 050 field of an LC record in the CUL online catalog), you have the option of continuing to class works at the Cutter-Sanborn Cutter rather than creating a new Cutter using the LC Cutter Table.
   Editions	Class editions of a work at an existing Cutter-Sanborn call number for the work if the existence of the other edition in the shelflist is known, and if there are no editions in the shelflist classed at the number assigned by LC.
   Editions and translations classed at the same Cutter	If both translations and editions of an individual work have been classed at the same Cutter, you have the option of classing additional translations at that Cutter.
   Criticism and commentaries of individual works do not use "3" in Cutter	You have the option of classing additional criticism and commentaries on the work to fit the existing pattern.
   Added Cutters for title where LC would use successive Cutters (using Preferred Shelflist Order for Individual Authors)	You have the option of using the Cutter-Sanborn Cutter for the author to assign call numbers to additional works at the same class number, if the LC Cutter for the author has not yet been used in the local shelflist. If the author Cutter is Cutter-Sanborn, use added Cutters for title rather than successive Cutters.
   Works by literary authors in more than one language but classed in one place	For literary authors writing in more than one language, you have the option of classing editions and criticism of specific works at the existing Cutter for the work, even if it is classed with a language other than the one in which it is written (e.g. Nabokov's Lolita, classed in PG3476 with Russian literature, rather than PS3527 with English literature).
   Cutter too long	If cutters created using the LC scheme are too long to fit on a single line of spine label tape (10 spaces including an initial period), you may use a second cutter for title or leave off translation/criticism extensions to get the cutter to fit.