Call Number Label Formatting

BACKGROUND: Over the years, the Library of Congress call numbers have been applied on materials in several ways. The numbers were formatted differently, depending on the catalog librarian who was in command. The Library of Congress sets forth the proper and standard use of the call number formatting in Manual G: Shelflisting. Additionally, with the advent of automation, consistent application of call number formatting on spine labels will reduce the number of computer generate errors when a complete inventory is taken of the library.

SCOPE: This instruction sheet will assist in the consistent application of formatting the call numbers for the spine labels of item in the library. The scope of the this instruction sheet will be limited to the actual formatting of call numbers for the purposes of identify the unique items cataloged.

1. Call numbers as used in the MARC record.
Call numbers consist of three to four parts: Class, class number, one cutter and date. In addition a second cutter may be inserted before the date. See the two examples below:



2. Formatting of the call number for labels.
Maag Library uses OCLC's SP1 format. This formats the call number appropriately. Thus, the above examples when formatted corrected will look like the following two examples below:

The formatting does not contain any special characters such as $%^&*#@! Or -. These characters inhibit future use of OCR scanning devices for purposes of library inventory control. Because these characters are not used in LC call numbers, if labels were to be produced with them, and then scanned, the automated library system would eject an error report—falsely reporting call numbers with these characters as not “being in the system”.

The “looped” O and cursive “l” are lettering devices used from the Dewey Decimal Classification. Because this classification was numeric, it was difficult to differentiate better zeros and the letter “oh” and ones and the letter “el”. The Library of Congress does not use this since any Cutter number beginning the with the character “O” is assumed to be an “oh”. In addition the cursive “el” is a workmark, and workmarks are only used in the date of an LC Call number. (LC does not use “el” as a workmark). The use of these are optional with the Library of Congress Classification. (It is not known what affect these two characters will have scanner software and automated systems.)

References:

Subject Cataloging Manual: Shelflisting. G70, G660.

Created 16 January 2001
Last modified 20 March 2002.
Questions or comments: email Jeffrey Trimble