Page History

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Contacts: Pam Stansbury,Laura Wright Daniels

Unit: Cataloging

Date last updated: 08/08/2019 March 20, 2025

Date of next review: August 2021OCLC review: compatible, 11/15/20192025

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Scope
      Classifications shelved in Olin and Uris
      Obsolete and locally invented class numbers
      Materials out of scope
      Classifications located in Annex
          Kroch
          ILR

Call numbers: General Considerations
Cuttering
      General considerations   
      Subarrangement by main entry  
      Established Cutters or Cutters limited by LC convention  
            Topical Cutters in the narrow sense
            Cutters specified in the classification schedules but not established
            Topical/geographical Cutters as part of the classification
             Creating Cutters when LC Cutter Table cannot be used
     Double and complex Cuttering: Biography and criticism
            Creators of literary, artistic and musical works
                   Individual artists, A-Z
                   Ancient Greek and Latin authors  
            Literary works: Cuttering for words beginning with "A" when cuttering begins at "A6"
            Individual biography
            Biography and criticism of literary authors, Z5-999
Dates in Call Numbers
  Multivolume works  
  Congressional hearings  
   Continuing resources
Series
  Series classed together and series classed separately
  Series classed together vs. multivolume monographs
Volume Enumeration
  Multivolume monographs
  Series classed together
Letter extensions in existing call numbers
Oversize Notation
  General rule
  Exceptions  
  Adding the oversize symbol
Using CLAMSSThe FOLIO Call number generator
  Appendix
  Cutter Sanborn Cutters and LTS Olin Historical Practices
  When to use pre-October 1997 practice for cuttering
  Using pre-existing Cutter Sanborn cutters on new items  

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A A

Scope

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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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   A3 A3

   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  When assigning accession numbers, catalogers should use the automated media shelflisting system, CLAMSSFOLIO Call number generator. See also  LTS Procedure #20 #19 , Computer Disk Processing, LTS Procedure #26#25, Processing Videorecordings, LTS Procedure #14 #13 , Sound Recordings Processing and LTS Procedure #23a#21a , Microform Processing for details.
   Archival materials	RMC and Kheel Center use local classification systems.
   Congressional hearings	See Exception in LTS Procedure #4#3b
   Cornell theses	See LTS Procedure #16#12 , Theses Processing
   Materials eligible for fast processing or fast cuttering	Refer to the Fastcat Fast-Cataloging -FOLIO (LTS Procedure #3b#3C) and Non-Fastcat Copy Cataloging (LTS Procedure #27#26) 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 range in LTS Procedure #4#3b.. 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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   A4 A4

   Classifications located in Annex

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The maximum that our spine labelleing labeling system will allow is 10 characters across, including an initial period, and 10 lines down.

Once you have created a call number, check verify its uniqueness by searching it against the online call number index in Voyagerour collection using the Call Number Browse search in the public catalog (Blacklight). If the call number created by the cataloger is identical to a call number already assigned to an item appearing in the index search result for the location in hand, modify the new call number by the addition of another digit (the expansion line in the LC Cutter Table may be used as a guide). This call number should be used both in the 050: 4: on the bib record and on the item in hand, with the exception noted in the Appendix of LTS Procedure #11this procedure for certain PCC records.

Filing arrangement is according to ALA filing rules, available from Cataloger's Desktop.

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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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   C2 C2

   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 Transvaal; 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 Classification & Shelflisting Manual (SCMCSM): 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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   C3 C3

   Established Cutters or Cutters Limited by LC Convention  
   

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     C3a C3a

     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 CSM: 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, or in ECIP cataloging), 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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     C3b C3b

     Cutters specified in the classification schedules but not established  

     Personal names (except those literary authors required to be established by CSM: Classification, F632; CUL catalogers almost never submit this type of classification proposal to LC)
     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 (SCMCSM: 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 SCMCSM: 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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     C3d C3d

     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 SCMCSM: 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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C4a1 C4a1

Type 1. a.  "Individual artists, A-Z" -- See SCMCSM: Shelflisting, G330 for arrangement of works by and about individual artists. Tables V and VI in G330 also accompany the N Schedule as Tables N5 and N6.

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C4b C4b

Cuttering for words beginning with "A" when cuttering begins at "A6"  

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

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C5 C5

Type 2. a.  "Individual biography, A-Z" -- The classification of biographical works is discussed in the SCMCSM: Shelflisting, section G320. The biography table in G320 should be used for works classed in individual biography class numbers in a schedule which does not have its own biography table. Biographical works classed in general class numbers are subarranged according to the Preferred Shelflist Order scheme in G60. 

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If works by and about an individual happen to be classified at the same number (including biographical works that are not in an individual biography class), they are arranged in the Preferred Shelflist Order--Individual Authors (SCMCSM: Shelflisting, G60.2) by means of a series of successive Cutter numbers for works by the individual, with the last Cutter in the series used for biographical and critical works about the individual, subdivided by means of a second Cutter for the main entry of the work.

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Rules for adding dates to call numbers are given in SCMCSM: Shelflisting, G140. Some additional practices not included in this section are:

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1. Anchor
   E1 E1

   Series classed together and series classed separately  

   Class volumes in a numbered series individually, each according to its own subject, or as a whole (CUL calls this a "series classed together" while LC calls it a "series classified as a collection, analyzed in full" or, if the series is projected to include a finite number of volumes, an "analyzed multipart item".)

   If a series authority record already exists and indicates that the series is classed together (646 subfield c), you have the option to follow that decision. Use the call number given in the 050 of the series authority record or, if the call number is not recorded there, follow the treatment used on CUL holdings records of previous titles in the series. Long-established series may have a CUL standing order record with treatment information as well. If you suspect that a series may historically have been classed together at CUL even if the series authority record indicates a series classed separately, you may investigate CUL's holdings records and use the series classed call number, or you may class the title separately, whichever is easiest.  However, now that CUL policy follows LC in generally not tracing series, use of a series classed call number is less advisable.

   If the series title is new to CUL, classify the series separately.

   Do not add local treatment information to series authority records. If you are editing the authority record in any way, update the national record.

   Generally do not change a series treatment decision unless there is a serious problem with it. <Note: LTS Procedure #4#3c gives a list of particular series which are major exceptions>. However, give series decisions made by LC/DPCC special consideration, since they provide a large proportion of the copy used, and their decisions influence the decisions of other libraries. Therefore, catalogers may consider changing CUL classification decisions and call numbers to match those used by LC/DPCC, as follows:

   • If the CUL and LC/DPCC decisions do not match, you may choose to change the CUL decision to match the LC/DPCC decision, either from series classed together to series classed separately or vice versa.
   • If both CUL and LC/DPCC class a series together, you have the option of changing the CUL series classed call number to the LC/DPCC number.

    

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   E2 E2

   Series classed together vs. multivolume monographs

   If one or more, but not all parts of a multivolume work also form part of a CUL series classed together, class the work separately, and not with the series classed together

   Example: Andersson, Efraim. Contribution ? l'ethnographie des Kuta. (Vol. 3: Occasional papers ; 15) (CUL call #: olin DT650 .K8A54K8 A54)

   For Olin Library, LTS treats the series, Occasional papers (Uppsala universitet. Institutionen for allman och jamforande etnografi) as a series classed together (at GN2 . U68). However, since only v. 3 of this multivolume work forms part of the series classed together, the multivolume work is classed separately.

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   F1 F1

   Multivolume monographs
   
   • Follow instructions in Format of MARC Holdings Records: Description Holding Statements: Formatting and Examples.
   • In the Textual Holdings Statement (866 field), for all language materials, CUL catalogers should use the designations appearing on the title page and/or the contents note, using the approved abbreviations (AACR2, Appendix B), or, if not covered by AACR2, the abbreviations can be found online at Abbreviations for Captions . at Abbreviations for Captions . If no designation appears on the title page, the volume enumeration should be recorded in square brackets without a supplied designation (Example: [1]; not [v.1]).
   • In the item record, CUL catalogers should use the vernacular form of the enumeration.  If no designation appears on the title page and the square bracket convention was used on in the MFHDholdings statement, supply a suitable designation on the item record (Example: MFHD holdings statement = [1]; ITEM ENUM = v.1).
   • When roman numerals appear on the piece, CUL catalogers should convert the roman numerals to arabic numerals in both the MFHD holdings statement and the item records.  (Exception: In rare cases, it may be necessary to retain roman numerals on in the MFHD holdings statement for clarity.)
     
   • If such designations as "suppl.", "index", "atlas", etc. are used as part of the call number, they should be abbreviated using the approved AACR2 abbreviationRD abbreviations, supplemented by our local Abbreviations . If there is no AACR2 RDA abbreviation, and the designation will not fit on the spine label (i.e. it is more than 10 characters long), use a reasonable non-approved abbreviation or select an alternative term. If the designation on the item is in the vernacular, use a suitable English designation.

    

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   F2 F2

   Series classed together
   
   • The designation (also called the caption) will appear along with the call number in the 852 Call Number box of the Mfhdholdings record.
   • Use the designation as it appears in the 642 field of the series authority record and the 830 field of the bibliographic record. If the numbering, or any level of it, appears without a caption, supply a suitable English designation for use in the Enum field Enumeration box of the Voyager item record and on the volume.
   • If all the items in the shelflist use an English caption rather than the vernacular caption appearing in the 642 field, continue to use the English designation.
   • If there is no approved AACR2 RDA abbreviation for a caption, and it will not fit on the spine label, use a suitable English caption.
   • In a multi-volume work within a series classed, the 852 Call Number should include either a continuous span of numbers (EXAMPLE: BX3301 . A53 v.19-20) or else the individual numbers within the series (EXAMPLE: BR60 . C813 v.2, 15, 17, 34)

     If the numbers are too many to fit easily into the space provided in the 852 Call Number box, a cataloger may use: BR60 . C813 v.2, etc. 

   • If only one volume of a multi-volume work within a series classed is being cataloged, the caption appearing in the 852 Call Numberbox is not repeated in the Enum field Enumeration of the Voyager item record. However, if more than one volume is being cataloged, and thus more than one number is recorded in the 852 of the Mfhd Call Number, record the number of the individual piece in the Enum field Enumeration of each item record. (EXAMPLE: The Mfhd Call Number reads BX3301 . A53 v.19-20. There will be 2 item records with Enums Enumerations for v.19 and v.20)

 

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G G

Letter extensions in existing call numbers

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   H1 H1

   General rule

   CUL catalogers add a notation to the call number of a book that is oversize. For what constitutes an oversize item for a given location, consult the Oversize chart.

   Use of oversize designation is in most cases determined by the largest size (i.e. height or width) of the item as it appears in the collation statement. For Olin and Uris, widths over 20 cm are considered oversized.
   

    

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   H2 H2

   Exceptions
   
   • A supplement to a monograph should be put in the same size category as the monograph.
   • A work with an oversize atlas, or a multivolume work of variant sizes, should be put in its largest size category.
   • Each volume in a series classed together will keep the same size notation in the call number as those items in the series that have been previously cataloged; the same is true for multivolume works that are not received as a set. Newly received items in this third category should never result in a routine reclassification, for oversize purposes, of already cataloged pieces in the set. When necessary, Access Services Dept. staff will shelve a dummy in the stated location with the rest of the series/multivolume work, referring to the actual location of anomalously oversized parts of the set.

    

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   H3 H3

   Adding the oversize symbol

   The position of the oversize symbol (+, ++, +++, tiny, #, flat, folio) in both the 852 field of the Mfhd holdings record and on the spine lable lablel of the item, varies depending on the location. See the Oversize chart.
   

 

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I I

Using CLAMSS the FOLIO Call number generator

When assigning accession numbers to videorecordings and microforms in designated locations, catalogers should use the automated media shelflisting system, CLAMSS Generate call number function in FOLIO.
The first indicator of the 852 field for accession-type call numbers should contain an 8 to indicate "other scheme."call number type should be "other".

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J J

Appendix

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J1 J1

Cutter-Sanborn Cutters and LTS Olin Historical Practices

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