Re: Question about LC Class numbers

Hi Karen and All,
        In my experience there have been many instances where cutters
for specific states, institutions, etc. were coded in subfield b
subsequent to a topical class number in subfield a to represent not
authorship but topic. The first example I chance upon this morning you
can see in LC's catalog and is a book about (not by) the "Foster
Hospital for Small Animals" with an "F" cutter for Foster in the
subfield b of the number: SF604.62.M42 F678 1999. I hope this helps with
your planning. Thanks,
Jimmie

-----Original Message-----
From: Next generation catalogs for libraries
[mailto:NGC4LIB_at_LISTSERV.ND.EDU] On Behalf Of Karen Coyle
Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 7:33 PM
To: NGC4LIB_at_LISTSERV.ND.EDU
Subject: Re: [NGC4LIB] Question about LC Class numbers

Thanks. Liz, although it's not hierarchical, LCC does represent the
shelf order, so it could be used for that kind of shelf browse. For
facets we are thinking of using only the main class (eg "A" or "K"). I
did a cobbled together list one and two-letter classes, and of course
had to squish some things where a two-letter class represents more than
one topic (like psychology AND the occult). It's imperfect, but we'll
play with letting people browse it or maybe use it to drill down in the
facets in greater detail. It's worth playing with to see if people like
it as a search aid. (I'm linking all of the lists that I create off of
http://demo.openlibrary.org/about/lib, in case anyone wants to look at
them. Suggestions and corrections always welcome.)

Cheryl, my only concern about keeping the whole thing is that the book
number will vary in different libraries, especially when the class
number is the same. So if we ever want to data mine based on class
number, it will be better to have it separate. I know I'm hedging here,
but since I have no idea how the data might be used I'm trying to
anticipate an unknown future. So thanks for your answer, because that's
just what I needed to confirm.

kc

Cheryl Boettcher Tarsala wrote:
> Karen--
>
>     The classification portion of an LC call number is coded in 050
> $a. This may include cutter numbers, which are often used to express
> subjects. $b is for book numbers, which include dates. Map call
> numbers are exceptional in that $a contains a class number, two
> cutter numbers and a date.
>
>     Chan's Guide to the Library of Congress Classification 5th ed.,
> pp. 86-87, is an authoritative source on coding.
>
>     Why not just keep it all, though?
>
> Cheryl
>
>
>> Folks, I know this is an odd question for this list, but I couldn't
find
>> any place more focused to ask it.
>>
>> I'm trying to get key information out of the MARC record for the
>> Internet Archive's Open Library project. I think they should store
the
>> LC class number, since that can be used to create facets or to do a
>> shelf browse kind of function. What I'm unsure about is whether to
keep
>> both the 050 $a and $b, or just the $a. I am assuming that the full
>> class number is in the $a, but does LC classification ever define
>> something that goes into $b, or is that all "cuttering, etc."?
>>
>> Since I don't have access to catalogers or the "Red Book," could
someone
>> here play Reference Librarian and help fine me an answer?
>>
>> Gratefully,
>>
>> kc
>> --
>> -----------------------------------
>> Karen Coyle / Digital Library Consultant
>> kcoyle@kcoyle.net http://www.kcoyle.net
>> ph.: 510-540-7596   skype: kcoylenet
>> fx.: 510-848-3913
>> mo.: 510-435-8234
>> ------------------------------------
>
>
> --
> Cheryl Boettcher Tarsala, Ph.D.
>
> "I teach cataloging."
>
>

--
-----------------------------------
Karen Coyle / Digital Library Consultant
kcoyle@kcoyle.net http://www.kcoyle.net
ph.: 510-540-7596   skype: kcoylenet
fx.: 510-848-3913
mo.: 510-435-8234
------------------------------------