LCCS Training Sessions OSU July 2007 Cuttering LCCS Training Sessions OSU July 2007
Background and Definitions Book number: A decimal number consisting of a letter of the alphabet followed by one or more digits that is appended to a class number in order to arrange material on the same subject in a specified order, usually alphabetically by author. Also called author number. Charles Ammi Cutter (1837-1903) and the Two-Figure Author Table
Example Treasures of the Library of Congress / Charles A. Goodrum. 1991 ed. Call number: Z733.U58 G66 1991 Book number: G66 [for the author's surname Goodrum] This is an example of double cuttering
Use of the Cutter The Cutter is the means by which books can be arranged alphabetically. Arrangement is based on: the LC filing rules the Preferred Shelflist Order table
Use of the Cutter (cont.) Cutters are treated as decimal numbers Allows for infinite expansion between any two numbers Example: .T3 .T46 .T57 .T585 .T59 .T7
Step 1: Find the filing position of the work Search the class number in the online shelflist Locate the proper location for the work to be shelflisted Usually, works are shelflisted in alphabetical order by main entry
Step 2: Cutter the main entry Use LC’s Cutter table: http://www.loc.gov/catdir/pcc/053/table.html Cutter consists of initial letter of main entry, capitalized Then, using appropriate line in table, add numbers for 1, 2, or more letters Examples: IBM - .I26 List - .L57 Quinn - .Q56 Schicht - .S35
Special Cases Treat initials with spaces and/or punctuation as separate words when filing Treat acronyms and initials not separated in any way as single words Example: A.B.C atlas of Isle of Wight A.W. Johnson enterprises Aavik, Johannes ABC health series Afaisen, Johnny AFL-CIO American Philosophical society
Cuttering Initial Numerals Use Cutters .A12 - .A19 when cuttering Roman or Arabic numerals (title main entry) Choose a Cutter near the center of this range when it is the first Cutter for a numeral in the class Example: 101 careers in mathematics Call no.: QA10.5 .A15 1996
Cuttering Example Shelflist has: Q387 .I59 2000 (main entry: International Conference…) Q387 .K563 1994 (main entry: Knowledge representation…) Q387 .L37 1991 (main entry: Larsen, Thomas) Work to be shelflisted: Part-whole reasoning in an object-centered framework / Patrick Lambrix.
Cuttering Example (cont.) Lambrix: L for initial letter 3 for “a” 6 for “m” Cutter: L36 Will file between: Q387 .K563 1994 (main entry: Knowledge representation…) Q387 .L37 1991 (main entry: Larsen, Thomas)
Single and Double Cutters Single Cutter for main entry Part-whole reasoning in an object-centered framework / Patrick Lambrix. Q387 .L37 1991 Double Cutter for topic or geographic, then main entry A book on taxation of chemical industries in the United States by John Smith: HD9650.8.U62 S65 2007
Single and Double Cutters (cont.) Double Cutter for country, then local geographic; add digit to 2nd Cutter for main entry Chemical industries in Prague / Josef Chemický. 2005 HD9650.8.C943 P733 2005
How many numbers are needed? Cutter according to your needs! Generally, a letter and 2 numbers is adequate Add more numbers if needed Example: new book has author Hinkley, D.A. Shelflist has: QD251 .H5653 1954 Hermans, Petrus QD251 .H8 1955 Huckel, Walter Assign .H5655 for Hinkley