MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES
Policy and Procedure Statement 2.4.1
Classification
January 2007

The Michigan State University Libraries will follow the Library of Congress classification system applying the latest LC schedules, unless institutional needs justify exceptions. The following are MSU Libraries classification policies for specific categories of material that either state our preferred classification choice, when LC provides two classification numbers, or for which categories LC class numbers are not used.  For all other unspecified categories, the LC class number on the supplied bibliographic copy will be used, unless it is a duplicate in the MSU collection, or is an error; such as, a non-existent LC class number.

Literature

Works of fiction of individual authors are classified with the literary number of that author in the LC classification schedules,  rather than in PZ.

Works by and about literary authors with one number or a cutter number are arranged according to the LC tables in the appropriate LC classification schedules.

Bibliography

General bibliographies may be classified in ‘Z' under 5000. If an alternate subject-specific LC class number is included in the copy cataloging record,  that number is preferred.  Subject- specific bibliographies will be classified with the subject, rather than in Z5000+.   For public services purposes, especially physical or online browsing, combining bibliographies with other works on a subject is more effective than assigning bibliographies to a separate and possibly distant location

Theses

Michigan State University theses are cataloged and have an accession number arrangement. Added copies in Special Collections are assigned a LC classification number. Theses of other universities are assigned a LC classification number.

Documents

Michigan, International Documents and other documents as selected by the Documents Librarian are being assigned a LC classification number.  Others will continue to receive the appropriate government documents assigned number.

Microforms

Microfiche are generally assigned an appropriate LC classification number without an author cutter, but with the suffix Microfiche. Microfiche MSU theses are not assigned a LC classification number, but are arranged by author's name. Non-LC classification numbers can be made for microfiche sets, by using the publisher's pre-assigned numbers, which are usually mprinted on the fiche header and suffix Microfiche.  Microfilm are assigned successive accession numbers with the suffix Microfilm.

Audio-Visual Materials

Audio-Visual Materials are generally assigned a LC class number.

Voice Library materials are given a locally assigned number by staff of the Voice Library.

Generally, Audio-Visual Materials are given a suffix at the end of the assigned classification number that defines the format; such as, videorecording, audiocassette....

Serials Cataloged Under Successive Title

The same call number will be retained for serials cataloged under successive title. However, in the event that the subject emphasis of a serial changes when the title changes, a new call number may be assigned.

Add Editions

New editions will be classified with the LC classification number according to the latest LC schedules.

Remote Electronic Resources

Remote electronic resources will be assigned a LC class number. Added to the end of this class number will be the suffix Online  that differentiates between an electronic title and a print title.

01-16-2007