Penn State University Libraries - Call Number Terms

This table gives the abbreviations and other terms used as designators in call numbers. The abbreviations in this list are not necessarily valid in field 362 or in series statements; see AACR2, Appendix B, for abbreviations used in parts of the bibliographic record other than the call number.

Note that for the sake of the automated marking subsystem, all volume designators should be treated as abbreviations (i.e., they are followed by a period) so that no space will come between the designator and any related number. This will ensure that the volume designator and number print on one line. The marking system can accommodate a maximum of nine spaces on a line. If it is necessary to drop a line in marking, leave a space after abbreviations or omit the period following whole words. If no number follows the designator, the period is omitted.

Examples: v.3, graph.1, dil.1, v. 10 and.index v.1-10

Do not use diacritics or special characters in the call number; the marking system will not print them.

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z

Ordinal Numbers | Months & Seasons

1. Use in call number only; in other parts of the record, use "ch."
2. Use in call number only; in other parts of the record, use "d."
3. Use in call number only; in other parts of the record, use "ill."
4. Use in call number only; in other parts of the record, use "introd."
5. Use in call number only; in fields 4XX/8XX, use "new ser." for "new series".
6. Because "portfolio" contains 9 characters, it cannot be followed by a period.
   

Use the following abbreviations for ordinal numbers in English. For foreign ordinal numbers, use "1.", "2.", "3.", etc.

Use the abbreviations given for the English names of months and seasons. For names of months in foreign languages, see AACR2, Appendix B15. Do not abbreviate names of seasons in foreign languages unless the term is longer than nine characters.