Locally-Assigned LC Call Numbers

BACKGROUND: The way in which call numbers are created for the Library of Congress contains the technique of “Shelflisting”. That is, the LC cataloger makes absolutely sure that the call number fits into the shelflist in a logical and orderly manner.

SCOPE: This procedure will ensure consistent and “correctable” application of locally-assigned and member-input assigned call numbers. The following will apply to call numbers found in the follow MARC21 tags with the following indicators:

     050 ?4         Agency other than LC assigned call number.
     090 ??        Locally assigned LC-type call number (usually OCLC Member input)

1. To avoid conflicts with LC Cuttering, the catalog department will affix an "x" to the date of any LC-type call number assigned locally, as shown:


TK
6565
.L6
C6
1989x


The same is true for locally assigned numbers that lack cuttering and end in dates:

JK
2373
1892x




If a literary author is assigned an author cutter in the classification scheme and further subdivision is by date only, the "x" again should be added to the date:

PQ
6503
.B3
1947x




Also, when there are standard cutters to denote literary forms, the date following should be suffixed by the "x":

PS
2587
.P5
A6
1899x




When a work or other letter is added to the date, (as in the case of photocopies or corporate bodies), the "x" is attached as shown:

TX
6565
.L6
C6
1989ax




When one finds older materials on OCLC (member input only!) and the call number has no date attached, but the last cutter ends with an "x", remove the "x" from the cutter, add the date with an "x" attached to the date:

 

Before:		After:
	HD 2328 .L5x		HD 2328 .L5 1966x




2. Added volumes (Add-ons), class together series, serials.

These materials do not generally receive the additional “x” on the date. Examine the main record. This record could be a monographic set record (such as Neue Saemtliche Werke von Johann Sebastian Bach) or it could be a series authority record (i.e., Works issued by the Hakluyt Society).

Example of a Series Authority Record (SAR):

050     G161 ‡b .H2 642     no. 5 ‡5 DLC	Spine label ===>
and from the bibliographic record:
050     G161 ‡b .H2 no.5 or 090     G161 ‡b .H2 no.5
BUT
090     Z1011 ‡b .N45x 642     v.75 ‡5 OYU and from the bibliographic record: 090     Z1011 ‡b .N45x	<======Notice the "x". This was performed either by a National agency (LC) or by a Catalog Librarian

 

NEVER add an “x” to a set of items already established. For example, if you are working with an added volume, accept the call number already established on the MARC record and add the enumeration to the item record and spine label. (Enumeration=volume information.)

25 September 2000
Last modified 11 March 2004.
Questions or comments: email Jeffrey Trimble