Special cataloging/processing situations:

Call number construction - Local decisions and practices

1.
(10/4/94) In constructing call numbers, put enumeration elements first (volumes and numbers of a series, editions, conference numbers, etc.), followed by chronological elements (year of event or publication) in parentheses:

[pattern for a series with numeric, alpha-numeric and chronological designations:]
949               QB1 .I5 v.1 (1922)
949               QB1 .I5 v.2 (1925)
949               QB1 .I5 v.3 (1928)
949               QB1 .I5 v.4 (1932)
949               QB1 .I5 v.5 (1935)
949               QB1 .I5 v.6 (1938)
949               QB1 .I5 v.7 (1950)
949               QB1 .I5 v.8 (1952)
949               QB1 .I5 v.9 (1955)
949               QB1 .I5 v.10 (1958)
949               QB1 .I5 v.11A (1961)
949               QB1 .I5 v.11B (1961)
949               QB1 .I5 v.12B (1964)
949               QB1 .I5 v.13A (1967)
949               QB1 .I5 v.13B (1967)

N.B.  Do not put the year in parentheses if the year serves as a numeric, and not chronological, designation.

[pattern for a multipart monograph:]
949               QL713.2 .M37 1997 v.1
949               QL713.2 .M37 1997 v.2
949               QL713.2 .M37 1997 v.3

N.B.  Publication date(s) for volumes beyond v. 1 may not be the same as for v. 1; nevertheless, the call number for each part of a multipart monograph reflects the publication date of the first part.

[pattern for an edition:]
GC67.R47 5th ed. (2002)

[pattern for a conference and for an annual report:]
TD427.A68 I58 11th (2002)

Put elements that denote a section or part of a particular issue last:

Q183.3.A1 N3 1996 Summary

GC401 .O213 1956 v.1, sect.4
GC401 .O213 1956 v.2, sect.5

2.
(10/24/94) Add the number of a conference to the call number for publications of the conference:

QC851 .P7 13th (1992)

3.
(11/13/98) When constructing call numbers, record first the more general part followed by the more specific parts, in order. For example, record first the year followed by the month. This allows the item to file correctly both on the shelf and in the automated catalog:

QC989.H9 I32 1955 Jan.-June
QC989.H9 I32 1955 July-Dec.

4.
(08/20/02) To add holdings in the Sirsi Unicorn, i.e., local system:  Use the function to add or edit volume and call numbers. (Do not edit directly the MARC 949 field in the bibliographic record.)  When adding or editing a volume or call number in Sirsi, use a |z delimiter for the volume number component of the call number.  That is, in order for the volume number element of the call number to be read and displayed by the local Sirsi Unicorn system, the delimiter must be a |z rather than a |v, as specified for MARC 949.

5.
(08/20/02) Spacing within the call number:  Because the Sirsi Unicorn system treats a space as a character, leave no spaces between an abbreviation and its associated number. This practice applies especially to volume number elements in MARC |v, e.g.,

c.2                     -->  no space between "c." and "2"
v.1                     -->  no space between "v." and "1"
no.2 (1998)        --> no space between "no." and "2"; one space between "2" and "(1998)"

6.
(08/20/02)  If the combined data for subfields |a and |v exceed 40 characters (including spaces), then the SIRSI catalog interface will neither store nor display the entire call number. When it is necessary to include abbreviated elements in the call number in order to accommodate the 40-character limit, consult the current edition of Anglo-American cataloguing rules (especially Appendix B) for abbreviations, and, in the absence of appropriate guidance there, another standard source, such as a dictionary or style manual.

Precedents for exceptional abbreviations used in NCL call numbers include:

Abstracts:                TC1505 .P33 1997 Abstr.

Appendix:                TC7 .U62 no.D-77-6 App.C

Electronic Book:      HG177 .Q53 2001 (E-Book)**

Executive summary: GC11.2 .O24 1992 Exec.sum.

Section:                   GC401 .O213 1956 v.2, sect.5

** See decision no.7 (below) for more information about format qualifiers in NCL call numbers.

7.
(08/27/02)  For documents in non-tangible formats, extend a call number with one of the following format qualifiers:

HG177 .Q53 2001 (E-Book)
SH221 .U53 2001 (Online)

To remember whether or not a call number for an NCL document should include a format qualifier, the following "rule of thumb" may be used:  If the document will reside on a shelf, then there is no need for a format qualifier.

The following formats or special kinds of materials are not represented in call number qualifiers because either the bibliographic utility supplies a unique workform for the appropriate MARC record type or local procedures for the collection apply:

CD-ROMs
Government documents
Maps
Microfiche
Microfilm
Serials
Sound recordings
Videorecordings

8.
(08/27/02)  In constructing call numbers for annual reports and conferences, the local practice is always to reflect the year of coverage rather than the publication year.  For example, if an annual report is being cataloged as a monograph, then use the date of coverage, or, report year, in the call number rather than the date of publication.
 
 
 

Last updated: October 25, 2002