1. The
Library of Congress
Classification
Daryl L. Superio
SEAFDEC/AQD Library

2. History
 was developed for Library of
Congress library collections in 1897
 James Hanson
 Charles Martel
 based on Expansive Classification
 was based on LC collections
 each schedule was developed by its
group of subject specialists

3. History
 Early developments
 E-F: History of America (Western
Hemisphere)- first schedule to be
developed, 1901
 Z: Bibliography, Library Science, 1902

4. Versions
 Library of Congress Classification,
Print
 Classification Plus
 Super LCC

5. Basic Principles and Structure
 enumerative
 has twenty one (21) main classes
 consist of forty-one (41) printed
schedules
 Notation, is alphanumeric
 starts with one, two or three letters
 followed by a number up to four digits
 sometimes followed by a decimal number
 followed by an alphanumeric (the cutter
number)
 ends with a date of publication

6. Basic Principles and Structure
 Hierarchy
 uses main classes and sub-classes
 arranged from general to specific
 page layout convey hierarchy and
meaning
 Number building
 an enumerative system
 uses number building to expand the
scheme

7. Basic Principles and Structure
 Revisions
 Schedules are
 revised individually
 revised not at the same time
 additions and changes are continuous
 Advantages
 new classes, subclasses and topics can
be added
 unique number can be assigned to a
work

8. Basic Principles and Structure
 Advantages
 cutter numbers are flexible
 available in LC MARC
 funded by Library of Congress

9. Basic Principles and Structure
 Disadvantages
 large number of schedule
 no overall index
 American emphasis in geographical arrangement
 time lag between the revision of schedules
 changes need to be checked in supplementary
publications
 new editions often require reclassification
decisions
 little documentation on how to use the
classification
 classification depends on acquisitions of the LC
Congress

10. Structure of Library of Congress
Classification
 Main Classes
 expressed
alphabetically
 letters I, O, W,
X, Y- not been
assigned

11. Structure of Library of Congress
Classification
 Subclasses
 every classes
have subclasses

12. Structure of Library of Congress
Classification
 Schedules
 there are 41
individual
schedules for
the main
classes and
subclasses

13. Structure of Library of Congress
Classification
 physical format of
the schedule
 Preface
 gives the history
 explains changes

14. Structure of Library of Congress
Classification
 physical format of
the schedule
 content page, lists
the:
 outline
 subclasses
 tables
 index

15. Structure of Library of Congress
Classification
 physical format of the
schedule
 outline
 summarizes the
topics and
subtopics
 gives an overall
picture of the
arrangement

16. Structure of Library of Congress
Classification
 physical format of the schedule
 the body of the schedule
 been developed by separate group of
subject specialist
 arranged from general to specific
 indentation shows hierarchical
relationships

17. Structure of Library of Congress
Classification
 physical format of
the schedule
 indentation
 shows hierarchy
 top of the pages,
serves to put the
topics on the
page in context
 summarizes the
hierarchy

18. Structure of Library of Congress
Classification
 physical format of the schedule
 notes
 accompany LC class numbers and
headings
 indicates the scope
 refers the classifier to another
number

19. Structure of Library of Congress
Classification
 Types of Notes:
 scope notes
 explain the type of works to be classified at
the subject
 may refer the classifier to related topics
elsewhere
 Example at, QH 540:

20. Structure of Library of Congress
Classification
 Types of Notes:
 including notes
 list topics which are included within the
subject
 Example at, Animal Culture SF 101:

21. Structure of Library of Congress
Classification
 Types of Notes:
 see notes
 refer the classifier to a number, elsewhere in the
schedule
 number in parenthesis indicates that the number is
no longer in use, and a see reference is given
 Example at, QH 540:

22. Structure of Library of Congress
Classification
 Types of Notes:
 confer notes (Cf)
 indicate that related topics are classed elsewhere
in the schedule
 Example at, QH 540:

23. Structure of Library of Congress
Classification
 Types of Notes:
 apply table at notes
 refer the classifier to a table with subdivision
instructions
 Example at, NK 3650.5 A-Z:

24. Structure of Library of Congress
Classification
 Types of Notes:
 other notes
 used in the schedules, most of it is self
explanatory

25. Structure of Library of Congress
Classification
 tables
 all schedules have tables
 within the body
 at the back of the schedule before
the index

26. Type of Tables
Table within the Body
Table at the Back of the
Schedule

27. Index
 a detailed in every
schedule
 refers classifier to
a specific LC
number
 the first place to
go when
classifying
 no general index

28. Notation
 Call numbers (Symbols)
 are alphanumeric
 mixed notation
 two main parts
 Class number, may consist of:
 the class or subclass letters
 a whole number
 decimal extension
 cutter numbers
 The Book number
 cutter number
 year of publication

29. Call numbers (Symbols)
 Example:
 An introductory text on geometry by Andrew
Brady, published in 1998
QA
445
.B73
1998
QA represents the subclass mathematics from the Q schedule
445 subdivides mathematics more specifically to Geometry
.B73
is the cutter number based on the main entry of the bibliographic record (which could be a personal author,
corporate author or the title of the work)
*in this call number the main entry is the author. The cutter number is:
- preceded by a decimal point
- constructed using the Library of Congress Cutter Table
1998 is the date of publication

30. Cutter Numbers
 used for alphabetical arrangement
of materials in the shelf
 derived from the name of Charles
Ammi Cutter
 special needs of its collections

31. Cutter Numbers
 used to give a unique call number
 to indicate the specific title
 to indicate the geographical area
 to indicate special topic covered by
a work
 used in shelving

32. Cutter Numbers
 begins with the first letter of a
word
 followed by a decimal number
 always preceded by a decimal
point
 formed using a table

33. LC Cutter Table

34. Cuttering and the LC Filing Rules

35. Date of Publication in Call Numbers

36. Date of Publication in Call Numbers
 in congresses or conferences
 the use of work letters
 work with different edition but same
imprint
 for facsimile editions
 work with same topic, published in the
same year and same corporate author
as main entry

37. Hospitality
 the degree in which the system is
able to accommodate new subjects

38. Mnemonics
 not an inherent characteristic of LC

39. Tables
o are used in LCC for two main reasons:
 to save space
 to assign a more specific call number
o are included in almost all schedules
o schedules H, N, P, B and L—contains more
tables
o schedules K and P have separate tables
o tables which apply generally across all
schedules
o tables which apply only to specific subject or
subclass

40. Types of tables:
 type 1 table- table within the schedules
 type 2 table- table within the schedules
 type 3 table- table within the schedules
 type 4 table- table within the schedules + table at
the back of the schedule
 Biography table
 Translation table
 Language and literature tables
 Form Division Tables For Law

41. References
 Dittman, H. & Hardy, J. (2000). Learn Library of
Congress classification. Campbell, ACT:
DocMatrix.
 Find product services. (n. d.). Library of
Congress, Cataloging Distribution Service.
Retrieved on 18 Aug. 2012, from
http://www.loc.gov/cds/products/index.php.
 Library of Congress classification. (2010).
Wikipedia: the free encyclopedia. Retrieved
on 24 September 2010, from http://
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library_of_Congr ess_Clas