LC Call Number Help

Owned by Andrea Payant
Last updated: Jun 03, 2021
4 min read

Library of Congress Classification: Main Classes

 

            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

            F          History of the Americas

            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

            Z          Bibliography, Library Science, Information Resources

 

Library of Congress Call Number Basics        

 LC call numbers are made up of 3 parts

 

  1. Classification number

Includes a 1 to 3 letter code (the first letter designating the main class and additional letters designating a sub–classification of the subject content of an item)

2. 1 or 2 cutter numbers (following the classification number) – used to further arrange books on shelves

They are formed by taking the first letter of the title or name associated with a work and assigning subsequent numbers based on a cutter table

 

3. Date (most often the date of publication)

 

LC Cutter Table

 

 

     After initial vowels
     for the second letter:
     use number:


b
2


d
3


l–m
4


n
5


p
6


r
7


s–t
8


u–y
9

 

     After initial letter S
     for the second letter:
     use number:


a
2


ch
3


e
4


h–i
5


m–p
6


t
7


u
8


w–z
9

 

     After initial letters Qu
     for the third letter:
     use number:

 


a
3


e
4


i
5


o
6


r
7


t
8


y
9

 

     For initial letters Qa–Qt
     use numbers:


2-29

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     After other initial consonants
     for the second letter:
     use number:

 


a
3


e
4


i
5


o
6


r
7


u
8


y
9

 

     For expansion
     for the letter:
     use number:

 


a–d
3


e–h
4


i–l
5


m–o
6


p–s
7


t–v
8


w–z
9

 

The following examples show Cutters that would be used if entries already shelf listed conform to this table.  In most cases, Cutters must be adjusted to file an entry correctly and to allow room for later entries.

 

Vowels

S

Q

Consonants

IBM                      .I26

Sadron                     .S23

Qadduri                   .Q28

Campbell                 .C36

Idaho                    .I33

Scanlon                    .S29

Qiao                         .Q27

Ceccaldi                  .C43

Ilardo                    .I43

Schreiber                  .S37

Quade                      .Q33

Chertok                   .C48

Import                   .I48

Shillingburg             .S53

Queiroz                    .Q45

Clark                       .C58

Inman                   .I56

Singer                       .S57

Quinn                       .Q56

Cobbleston              .C63

Ipswich                 .I67

Stinson                     .S75

Quorum                    .Q67

Cryer                       .C79

Ito                         .I87

Suryani                     .S87

Qutub                       .Q88

Cuellar                    .C84

Ivy                        .I94

Symposium              .S96

Qvortrup                  .Q97

Cymbal                   .C96

 

Call Numbers and Copy Cataloging

 

  1. Check the call number structure – The 1st cutter should be preceded by a period and a 2nd cutter (if present) should not – there are never more than 2 cutters

 

2. Make sure the call number is not duplicated in Sierra – If so, consult a cataloger (Note: Call numbers can only be duplicated for multiple copies of an item or when the item is just a different version of an item already in the system, in this case, the publication year in the call number should usually be different – if not consult a cataloger)

 

3. Check the subject matter and make sure the call number seems to correct – you can do this by checking similar call numbers in Sierra or you can use Classification Web to see what call numbers are associated with certain subjects

 

4. Call numbers beginning with N, TR, or TT are in the Art Collection – art book call numbers follow slightly different rules, especially for items with an “.A4” cutter – See the following rules for art book call numbers if you come across an art collection item with an “.A4” cutter – or consult a cataloger 

 

5. When in doubt, just ask a cataloger

 

Art Collection Call Numbers (N, TR, TT)

 

Under Library of Congress rules, exhibition catalogs that contain the work of an artist end with the exact same call numbers.  These numbers all have a second cutter of “.A4” – since USU has such a large collection of art catalogs (thanks to the Caine Foundation), this doesn’t work for us.  So the procedure at USU is to change all second “.A4” cutters to a cutter based on museum or gallery the exhibition was held in or if that is not applicable, to the author of the text. 

Cutter Table (Art Collection)

After initial Vowels

a-c       d-k       l-m       n-o       p-q       r           s-t        u-z

2          3          4          5          6          7          8          9

 

After initial S

a-c       ch-d     e-g       h-l        m-p      r-s        t           u-z

2         3          4          5          6          7          8          9

 

After QU

a          e          i           o          r           t           y

3          4          5          6          7          8          9

 

After other initial Constants

a-d       e-h       i-n        o-q       r-t         u-w      x-z

3          4          5          6          7          8          9

 

Additional number

a-d       e-h       i-l         m         n-q       r-t         u-w      x-z

2          3          4          5          6          7          8          9

 

Art collection materials are more specialized when it comes to classification.  So, if you are working with art materials you may need to consult with a cataloger more often than usual, or in some cases, you may just need to pass the materials on to someone else to process.