Call Number Format (Revised) 10/08/11
Call Number Format (Revised) 10/08/11 - Western Cataloguing Specifications
Call numbers are unique identifiers assigned to library materials to indicate their physical location within the library collections. A UWO call number consists of some or all of the following elements:
1. Location/Collection Designator
2. Class Number - consists of some or all of the following:
- One, two, or three capital letters
- Whole numbers 1 to 9999
- Possible decimal extensions
- Topical/Geographic (T/G) Cutter number
UWO uses Library of Congress or National Library of Medicine Classification Schedules to formulate class numbers.
3. Book (Cutter) Number
4. Chronology (Date)
5. Caption and Enumeration
CAPTION is a word or phrase, usually in abbreviated form, that identifies the type of parts into which a multipart or serial unit has been divided, e.g. volume, tome, Band, Heft, part, number. Caption is usually the same as is used on the publication. For list of caption abbreviations see Abbreviations for Use on Spine Labels.
ENUMERATION is the number used for numeric designation of the part. Roman or other numerals in the publication must be translated into Arabic.
6. Copy Number - The designation indicating the specific copy of a bibliographic unit.
Example:
| Location/Collection Designator | DBWSTK | TAYSTK |
| Classification - Letters | HQ | WS |
| Whole numbers | 1240 | 105 |
| Decimal extension | .5 | .5 |
| T/G Cutter | .I4 | .C8 |
| Book (Cutter) number | W65 | .B225m |
| Chronology (Date) | 1991 | 1979 |
| Caption and Enumeration | v.1 |
NOTE: Each line in the vertical format of the call number is limited to 8 spaces.
EXAMPLES - Monographs
| DBWSTK | DBWSPE | DBWMFM | TAYSTK | TAYSTK |
| PN | PQ | PQ | QH | QH |
| 771 | 6337 | 6337 | 31 | 31 |
| .R5 | .W35 | .W35 | .H27 | .H27 |
| 1971 | 1891a | 1891aa | C55 | C55 |
| 1969 | 1969b |
| LAWSTK | LAWSTAK | DBWSTK | DBWSTK | DBWSTK | TAYSTK | TAYSTK example: NLM classification uses period (.) with each Cutter |
| KDZ | UG | E | PR | G | WS | |
| 579 | 1 | 513 | 9360 | 1844 | 105 | |
| .I58 | .9 | .5 | .N583 | .22 | .5 | |
| D38 | 1984 | 55th | S45 | .L6 | .B225m | |
| 1992 | .S53 | .F6 | B6 | P5 | 1979 | |
| 1986 | 1971 | 1986 | S3 | |||
| 1976 |
Music call number variations:
| MUSSTK | MUSSTK | MUSSTK | MUSSTK | MUSSTK |
| M | M | M | M | M |
| 452 | 184 | 457 | 652 | 10 |
| .4 | .R5 | .H395 | .R547 | .B34 |
| .S36 | op.150 | H.II, | A maj. | BWV769 |
| (1645) | no.4-5 | 14 | 1990 | 1980 |
| 1984 | 1991 | 1959 | pts |
Note that the above examples contain a portion (e.g. (date), opus and number, thematic index number, key) of the corresponding uniform title for the item.
| CBO | CBO | MUSDSK | CBO | MUSSTK |
| MBD | MC | MCD | MC | Rec |
| 1360 | 726 | 1245 | 1 | 3000 |
| SATB | Unison |
These call numbers reflect local classification practices.
Captions used as part of basic call number (966$s):
| DBWMIR PR 1134 .E55 Index 1992 |
No spacing required between Cutter and caption. |
| DBWREF HF 5813 .C2 P767 1984 Suppl. |
No spacing required between date and caption. |
Multi-Volume-Set (MVS):
| DBWREF Z 2230 .S78 1977 Bd.8 |
No spacing required between basic call number and Lfg.2 holdings descriptors (966$d-i which contain the caption/enumeration/chronology) |
Series classified as a collection:
| EDUSTK Q 182 .3 .S35 no.8 1991 |
NO spacing required between series basic call number and series caption/enumeration/chronology. |
MVS within a series classified as a collection: volumes in the set carry separate series numbers
| DBWSTK G 860 .A57 v.50 1950 |
NO spacing required between series basic call number and series caption/enumeration/chronology. |
MVS within a series classified as a collection: all volumes in the set carry the same series number.
| DBWSTK PT 1101 .D4 Bd.146 Abt.1 T.1 |
NO spacing required between basic series call number and series caption and enumeration. No spacing required for MVS holdings descriptor (caption/enumeration). |
EXAMPLES - Serials
| BUSREF | DBWMFM | TAYSTK | ENGPER | TAYPER |
| HD | AN | W | TK | W |
| 9502 | 5 | 22 | 5700 | 1 |
| .E8 | .T7 | .DC2 | .I62 | .IN766 |
| M34 | B7 | .1 | AES | GAD |
| .O5 | ||||
| M44 |
Call numbers assigned to serials consist only of the basic elements (Location/Collection Designator, Class Number, Book (Cutter) Number, Copy Number). Field 966 does not include holdings descriptors, i.e. subfield codes $d-$i.
Labelling of serials with complete call number for each individual piece is the responsibility of the Inventory Control Staff. Standards and procedures for labelling serials are outlined in the Inventory Control Manual. A list of abbreviations for use as serial captions are also included in the Manual. FIHDES is not applicable.
Serial within a series classified as a collection:
The following are examples of practices which have been discontinued as a result of summary holdings complications. New serials within a series classified as a collection must be questioned:
| DBWSTK F 1421 .T95 no.15 |
|
Composite series numbering (no.15 etc.) appears no.15 only in the cataloguing record. Each physical piece etc. has its own series number on the spine label, e.g. |
|
| F 1421 .T95 no.18 (v.2 of serial) |
F 1421 .T95 no.28 (v.3 of serial) |
| ENGSTK TP 1 .A63 subser. |
Caption used to keep all the volumes of a serial together. It is part of the call number on individual pieces in the serial. |
EXAMPLES - Copy number
| DBWSTK | TAYSTK |
No spacing required between basic call number and copy number. Copy no. comes from the Item record. |
| PG | BF | |
| 3476 | 724 | |
| .A324 | .8 | |
| B38 | .H34 | |
| copy 2 | 1959 | |
| copy 2 |
| DBWSTK | DBWSTK |
No spacing required between multipart item call number and copy number. Copy no. comes from the Item record. |
| DD | DD | |
| 89 | 89 | |
| .R36 | .R36 | |
| 1961 | 1961 | |
| v.1 | v.3 | |
| copy 2 | 1992 | |
| copy 2 |
No spacing required between multipart copy 2 item call number and copy number. Copy 1 is suppressed in the printing of spine labels.
The current practice is to always place Copy number as the last component of the call number on the spine label.
Previously the practice regarding the placement of the copy number for multipart items varied. Copy number may not have been the last component of the call number on the label. For adders, the cataloguers must observe the current practice and leave the discrepancies for Inventory Control staff to resolve.
Prior to 1992, the practice for serials was to include copy number as part of 099 and 966$s. This practice has been discontinued. Retrospective clean up is taking place.
CHANGES TO PRACTICE AS OF AUG. 11, 2010 ARE IN RED.
