Classification
Policy & misc. info.
Return to
Classification main
Policies
Classification policy
050 4 guidelines
CAS
Accompanying mat.
Accession numbers
Duplicate call nos.
Classics (SC)
Classification
systems
General info.
Library of Congress
Richardson
Princeton theses
Old practices
GA and GAX old
N schedule |
Classification / shelflisting policy
(See also: Serials Call
Number Decisions)
It is the policy of Princeton University Libraries not routinely to
"pre-shelflist" materials as part of the cataloging process. Thus, once
the cataloger has determined the class number for an item, a book number
is assigned according to the Cutter table
and the item is sent on for physical processing.
However, as a practical matter it is often wise to fit items into particularly
crowded sections of the shelflist (e.g., a critical work on Joyce's Ulysses
or a biology textbook with a title main entry of "Biology").
Any call number conflicts that result and are detected will usually
be the cataloger's responsibility to correct. These should be quite infrequent.
In addition please note the following classification and shelflisting
policies:
- As of February 5, 1992 we routinely assign three digits to the book
number (e.g., .S674 for a main entry of Sorensen, instead of .S67) and
add the date of publication. This should greatly reduce the likelihood
of conflicts.
- We never change an existing call number merely to correct variations
in a strict alphabetical sequence.
- When cataloging an edition of a title to which LC assigned only one
or two digits in the book number, retain the LC number.
- When cataloging an item with pre-AACR2 LC copy with a book number
derived from obsolete practice (such as an editor as main entry), change
the book number to reflect the AACR2 main entry. (N.B.: This does not
apply to recons; there the original number is retained and a "Cuttered
for ... " note is added.)
- If a new book is an added copy for the same location (ACX) or a replacement
of a title with a Richardson number, give the new book the same Richardson
number. If it is an added copy for a different location (AC) of a title
with a Richardson number, give it an LC number.
Editions with different call numbers:
When we receive an edition of a work that we already have in the collection,
we routinely assign it the same call number as the existing work, differentiating
it with a date. Please note however the following instructions for problematic
cases:
- If the existing edition has a Richardson number, assign the new work
an LC number and let the editions sit apart on the shelves.
- If the existing edition has a defunct LC call number (e.g., BL for
Buddhism) or an artificial LC call number (e.g., the bogus K numbers),
assign the new work a valid LC number and let the editions sit apart
on the shelves.
- If the existing edition is cuttered based on pre-AACR2 practice (most
commonly for an editor), cutter the new work to match the old one and
add a "Cuttered for ..." note.
|