Technical Services Procedures

Cataloging - General Procedures: Formatting Call Numbers

Page Editor: Janet Baldwin
Last Updated: September 27, 2007

Contents:        General information
                       Where to put the call number
                       Format for inputting LC (050, 090) call numbers
                       Format for inputting local (099) call numbers

General Information

Call numbers are written in pencil in all materials except Special Collections materials, Microforms, and MSU Theses. See the appropriate procedures for these materials.

Each part of the call number is written on a separate line. Volume and copy designations are included as part of the call number in the book, except for copy 1, which is not used. Volume designations are given in the vernacular, using approved abbreviations. Stamp the location over the call number for all locations except Main, Browsing, and Faculty Book Collection. (Never stamp the location or write in a Special Collections item.)

The 050 field is for call numbers assigned by the LC (Library of Congress).

The 090 field is for locally assigned call numbers which conform to LC form. These will override an 050 call number in the catalog. That is, if a record has both an 050 and an 090 call number, the 090 will display to the public. If there are two 090 numbers in a record, the incorrect 090 should be deleted.

The 099 field is for locally assigned call numbers that do not conform to LC form. 099 call numbers override both 050 and 090 numbers.

Small letters after the date in the call number:
a : facsimile reproduction (used after the date of the original; e.g., 1803a)
b, c, .... : 2nd, 3rd, ... editions of the same book published in the same year
z : exact year unknown; published sometime during the decade (e.g., 1950z)

Where to put the call number

Hardcover books: Pencil call number inside cover in the upper left corner of the inside cover if possible. Do not write call number on maps, illustrations, or dark-color paper. If necessary, write the call number in the upper left of the first clear left-hand page. Labeling uses the call number written in the book to type the label.
Paperback books: Pencil call number on the back of the title page in the center, or as close as possible. Avoid the edges of the page, since they may be trimmed before binding. If the book has a cover title, write the call number on the verso (back) of the cover, as close as possible to the center. For cover titles, also stamp "Do not detach" on the verso of cover, near the top.
Supplementary material: See supplementary material procedure.

Format for inputting LC (050, 090) call numbers

Note: The spaces on either side of the |b show how a call number will appear in OCLC. In the catalog, those spaces are not used.

Three-line call numbers

DA          Input as: DA664 |b .W33
664
.W33

KFN        Input as: KFN0 |b .A53

.A53          '0' (zero) tells the computer there is a blank line.
                     It should not be written in the call number in the book.

BX          Input as: BX8735 |b 1834
8735
1834

Four-line call numbers

DA          Input as: DA664.W33 |b P4
664
.W33
P4

SF          Input as: SF955 |b .R6 1801
955
.R6
1801

KT          Input as: KT0.A4 |b A36

.A4
A36          '0' (zero) tells the computer there is a blank line.
                    It should not be written in the call number in the book.

JN          Input as: JN9663 1942 |b .A3619
9663
1942           '1942' is a date.
.A3619

BR          Input as: BR743 |b .H5 Suppl.1
743
.H5               No space after Suppl. because it is abbreviated.
Suppl.1

Five-line call numbers

DA          Input as: DA664.W33 |b P4 1977
664
.W33
P4
1977

PN          Input as: PN1992.3.U5 |b Z5 B4
1992.3
.U5
Z5
B4

D            Input as: D839 |b .G4 1976 Heft 42
839
.G4           Leave space after Heft, because it is not abbreviated.
1976
Heft 42

QA          Input as: QA1 |b .S48 v.48 Suppl.
1
.S48         No space after v. because it is abbreviated.
v.48
Suppl.

QE          Input as: QE1 |b .S65 v.5 no.125
1
.S65         No space after v. or no. because they are abbreviations.
v.5          No comma is necessary after the v.5.
no.125

HT          Input as: HT106 |b .B9 Heft 103-110
106
.B9           Leave space after Heft, because it is not abbreviated.
Heft
103-110

Six-line call numbers

PT          Input as: PT2662.O27 |b Z5 A3 1975
2662
.O27         No comma is necessary after the A3.
Z5
A3
1975

PT          Input as: PN1992.3.U5 |b Z5 B4
266
.O27
Z5
1946
fasc.1

G            Input as: G8090 s250 |b .U5 Suppl. 1944
8090
s250
.U5
Suppl.
1944

BS           Input as: BS192.2.A1 1964 |b G3 v.32
192.2
.A1
1964          '1964' is a date.
G3             If there is a period before the 2nd cutter (G3), remove it.
v.32

Format for local (099) call numbers

U.S. Documents numbers (from Gov. Docs., May 2003):

There is one space between letters (or letter combinations) and numbers, except when there is punctuation between the two. When there is punctuation between letters and numbers, no space is left.
A 13.82:AE 2/3
HE 20.8202:C 33/999
Y 4.AG 8/3:100-65

If there is a number after a colon and before a cutter, there is a space after the number.
Y 3.N 88:10 E 68
Y 10.6:3 SE 9

Documents serial call # examples:
C 3.1:995
C 3.1:1/2
The only part of the serial call number entered in the record is the base number, which ends with the colon. The rest of the call number is the volume/year information, which is added to the label only, in the order Years, Numbers, Letters.

Microcopy numbers

FILM            Input as: 14247 Microfilm
14247

FICHE          Input as: 2631 Microfiche
2631             Fiche sometimes has an LC call number rather than
                          following this format .

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