Library of Congress Classification & Call Numbers Danielle Ostendorf

Library of Congress - History Founded in 1800 o "the oldest federal cultural institution in the nation" Originally in the Capital o Until the War of 1812 Locations o Thomas Jefferson Building (1897) o John Adams Building (1938) o James Madison Memorial Building (1981) The Copyright Office has been part of the Library since 1870

Who can guess? The number of items the Library of Congress houses?

Library of Congress - Today Largest Library in the World! million items o 34.5 million books/printed material o 3.3 million records o 13.4 million photographs o 5.4 million maps o 6.5 million pieces of music o 66.6 million manuscripts 10,000 items added DAILY 763,000 congressional reference requests in ,830 individuals helped through reference services via phone, online or in-person

Herbert Putnam ( ) Preceded by John Russell Young 8th Librarian of Congress ( ) o Has served the longest term Progressive Librarian o New Classification Scheme - available nationwide o Sale & Distribution of printed catalog cards o Interlibrary loans Created, what is now known as, the Library of Congress Classification

"The system the Library of Congress devised has not sought to follow strictly the scientific order of subjects. It has sought rather a convenient sequence of the various groups" Source: Humeston

Library of Congress Classification 21 Basic Classes 21 alphabetical classes divided into subclasses o 2 (sometimes 3) letter combo Each Topic (or Caption) is divided into a division and assigned a number 1-4 digits in length (1-9999) Divisions then have Subdivisions

21 Basic Classes A -- GENERAL WORKS B -- PHILOSOPHY. PSYCHOLOGY. RELIGION C -- AUXILIARY SCIENCES OF HISTORY D -- WORLD HISTORY AND HISTORY OF EUROPE, ASIA, AFRICA, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, ETC. E -- HISTORY OF THE AMERICAS F -- HISTORY OF THE AMERICAS G -- GEOGRAPHY. ANTHROPOLOGY. RECREATION H -- SOCIAL SCIENCES J -- POLITICAL SCIENCE K -- LAW L -- EDUCATION M -- MUSIC AND BOOKS ON MUSIC N -- FINE ARTS P -- LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE Q -- SCIENCE R -- MEDICINE S -- AGRICULTURE T -- TECHNOLOGY U -- MILITARY SCIENCE V -- NAVAL SCIENCE Z -- BIBLIOGRAPHY. LIBRARY SCIENCE. INFORMATION RESOURCES (GENERAL)

Library of Congress Classification 21 Basic Classes 21 alphabetical classes divided into subclasses o 2 (sometimes 3) letter combo o Page 192 in your Student's Guide Each Topic (or Caption) is divided into a division and assigned a number 1-4 digits in length (1-9999) Divisions then have Subdivisions

CLASS N - FINE ARTS Subclass NA - Architecture NA Architecture NA1-60 General NA Architecture and the state NA History NA1995 Architecture as a profession NA Study and teaching. Research NA Competitions NA Museums. Exhibitions NA General works NA Architectural criticism NA Architectural drawing and design NA Details and decoration NA Special classes of buildings NA Classed by material NA Classed by form NA Classed by use NA4170-(7020) Public buildings NA Religious architecture NA Domestic architecture. Houses. Dwellings NA Clubhouses, guild houses, etc. NA Farm architecture NA Outbuildings, gates, fences, etc. NA Aesthetics of cities. City planning and beautifying

Theory to Practice Which of the 21 Basic Classes would my book fall under? Which Subclass?

BL - Religions. Mythology. Rationalism

Understanding Call Numbers Q E B 6 4 Class Subclass Further Definition of Subject Area Division & Subdivision Cutter Number

Q E B 6 4 CLASS Q - SCIENCE Subclass QE QE Geology QE General Including geographical divisions QE Mineralogy QE Petrology QE Dynamic and structural geology QE Volcanoes and earthquakes QE Structural geology

Cataloging with LCC ShorthandMeaning (not A-Z)cutter the title A-Zlook up table A#-Zstart as the desired location.x2A-.x2Zreplace x and look up tables Cf.Confer

Tables of general application Regions and Countries Table Table of American States and Canadian Provinces Biography Table Table of Translations Tables of limited application Typically in a Class or Subclass Internal sub-arrangement LC Cutter Table LCC Tables

Criticism Knowledge as a whole vs Library of Congress needs

LCC vs Dewey

Want a Copy? 41 Printed Volumes (Schedules) o Can be purchased individually or as a set LoC Website o Classification Web Cataloger's Desktop

Conclusion Classification numbers are listed in schedules o Class  Subclass Division o Subdivision Use tables when needed Cutter numbers keep everything organized o Also gives each item a unique call number Always add the imprint date

Bibliography Humeston, H. Student's guide to cataloging and classification. (2008 Edition ed.). St. Paul, MN Library of congress classification. (n.d.). Retrieved from Library of congress online catalog. (n.d.). Retrieved from Rosenberg, M. (n.d.). About.com. Retrieved from Rosendburg, J. (1993). The nation’s great library: Herbert Putnam and the library of congress, University of Illinois press. Retrieved from Question?