Penn State Libraries : Cataloging : Special Collections Team: Call Numbers

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Call Numbers

Transcription Rules | Call Numbers | Fixed Field | 245 | 260 | 300 | 5XX | 6XX Biographies | 6XX Pa. Imprints | 6XX Subdivisions | 655 | 700/710 | 773

PZ Call Numbers | LC Call Numbers | Dewey Call Numbers | Estimated Dates

1. PZ call numbers

We accept PZ call numbers for rare materials only for juvenile books. Accept fiction classed from PZ5 to PZ10.3 (with the exception of PZ8.7 through PZ10.0) for juvenile books; any other PZ number must be referred.

If a PZ call number is the only one available for non-juvenile material, refer. If a PZ call number is the only one available for non-fiction juvenile material, refer.

2. LC call numbers

Most rare books are given LC call numbers. Shelflist the call number found on copy and check for conflicts and duplicates before using the number. Be alert for literary call numbers and check that they are in proper sequence. Rare Book copy catalogers are permitted to use edition call numbers found on matching and near copy without referring them.

3. Dewey call numbers

Several rare book collections receive specially created Dewey call numbers:

American Gift Books
Joseph Priestley Collection
Treasure Beaver
Pennsylvania Almanacs (Treasure Beaver)
Pennsylvania Imprints before 1840 (Treasure Beaver)
Bibles printed in Pennsylvania before 1840 (Treasure Beaver)

Pennsylvania imprints for special collections other than those listed above (such as Allison-Shelley or Pattee) should be classed in LC, not Dewey, for items published before 1840.

See Special Rare Materials, for specifics.

4. Estimated dates

Special Collections Materials often lack a stated date of publication; however, the Team must always supply approximate dates to be used in 008, 260c, and 050b fields. Estimated dates of publication may come from various sources, such as within the item itself, or from the ORF, OCLC, RLIN, NUC or from other reference sources.

Follow this procedure when estimating a date of publication:

Include a note (500 or 590) citing the source used for estimated date
For uncertain dates, refer to 008 and/or 260 in Record Creation or MLP documentation
Use an upper-case X in the Call Number field for uncertain elements of the date; do not use zeros, which are too generic, or question marks, which create searching issues.

Examples:

DA412.E53 19XX
PR9619.3.M254M22 196X

In the fixed fields, use Date Type s and replace the unknown numbers in the date with lower-case u, i.e.: 19uu.

If the publication date is an estimated range of dates (e.g. [between 1908 and 1922?]), use the first date in the call number. In the the fixed fields use Date Type q, put the first date in Date1 and the second date in Date2.

Note: Do not use the X when creating an 050/090 for original cataloging. Instead, follow LC's practice of using zeroes followed by a lowercase z work letter, or just zeroes if the main entry is a corporate body [per SCM G 140 Dates].

[197-?] = 1970z (1970 if corporate body)
[19--?] = 1900z (1900 if corporate body)