Library of Congress Classification

A presentation introducing the Library of Congress (LC) Classification system

1. Bibliographic control systems
(LC classification)
IST 603 November 29, 2006
Denise A. Garofalo

2. LC classification—history
The Library of Congress was founded in 1780
The earliest classification system was by size
(folios, quartos, octavos), subdivided by
accession numbers
In 1812 there were 3000 volumes and the
size-based system was failing
A system with 18 categories was devised

3. LC classification—history
In 1814 the Capitol was burned (LC’s
collection was housed there)
Thomas Jefferson offered to sell Congress
his library to re-establish LC
He had cataloged and classified the works
His scheme had 44 classes
Jefferson’s scheme (modified somewhat
over the years) was used in the LC until
the end of the 19
th
century

4. LC classification—history
In 1899 LC had a new Librarian and a
new building—a reorganization and
reclassification seemed appropriate
The reclassification resulted in what is
known today as the LCC
The LCC built upon DDC, Cutter’s
Expansive Classification and the
German Halle Schema

5. LC classification
The outline and notation are similar to
Cutter’s Expansive Classification
No main classes I, O, W, X or Y
These letters do appear as second or
third symbols in various LCC subclasses
The structure of class Z (Bibliography and
Library Science) follows Cutter’s with
minor variations (Z was the first class
devised under LCC)

6. LC classification
Different subject specialists developed
each individual LC schedule following a
broad general framework which was
established to ensure coordination
Each schedule of a class or parts of
classes was published as completed
Schedules are revised through
committee review and then reissued

7. LC classification
Because LCC involves letters and letter
combination as well as numbers, it will
continue to accommodate new subjects and
aspects of subjects for a long time
LCC is favored by large university and
research collections
Hospitality and inherent flexibility
Also used in smaller academic and public
libraries and some special libraries
Doesn’t handle broad classifications well

8. LCC schedules
LCC schedules comprise 43 volumes
Basic schedules
A short general outline which contains
secondary and tertiary subclass spans for
most classes
For complete list see
http://www.loc.gov/cds/classif.html#lccs

9. Updating LCC
Revised editions of individual schedules
are published as needed
Later editions do not always contain all the
information from previous editions
(prefaces, index entries, author cutters)
May need to keep earlier editions in order
to have access to needed information even
though later editions are used for actual
classifying

10. Updating LCC
A quarterly publication, Library of
Congress Classification—Additions and
Changes, stopped in print in 2002.
The latest adjustments in all schedules
and schedule indexes for LCC is
available online

11. Tools for LCC work
For fine-tuning class numbers and shelflist
assignments the LC catalog, Thomas, can
be consulted (search online LC catalog via
classification number)
Vendors publish other tools for use with
LCC
Many folks have penned articles on using
LCC

12. LCC--overview
It is an enumerative rather than a
deductive system
Uses capital letters for main and
subclass notations
Uses Arabic numbers for further
subdivisions
Modified Cutter’s author-mark scheme
to achieve alphabetic arrangements

13. LCC--overview
Most LC call numbers follow a simple
pattern
Letter/number/letter/number
Some LCC combinations reflect special
situations and do not follow this pattern
All LC schedules have similar but not
identical sequencing arrangements and
physical appearance

15. LCC--overview
All LC schedules have similar but not identical
sequencing arrangements and physical
appearance
The order proceeds as a rule from general aspects
of the topic to particular subdivisions and
subtopics
Chronological sequence may trace useful time
frames
Geographical arrangements are generally
alphabetical but may have a different, “preferred”
order

16. LCC--overview
Does not group literature by form (like
DDC) but rather by national literature then
chronology and then individual author
(German lit, then 19
th
century, then alpha
by author)
LCC has two places for “generalia” as
found in DDC
A, General Works (encyclopedias)
X, Bibliographies and library science

17. Questions?

18. Break time

19. LCC live
http://summit.orbiscascade.org/
http://libraries.mit.edu/

20. LCC schedule format
External format (most schedules follow a
pattern which includes):
Preface
Brief synopsis of the primary subdivisions in this
class/schedule
An outline of alphabetic subclasses and
alphanumeric subspans
The schedule proper
Auxiliary tables
Detailed index
Supplementary pages of additions and changes

21. LCC schedule format
Internal format, or “Martel’s Seven Points of
Internal Format” (basic orientation features
found in each schedule):
General form divisions
Then theory and philosophy
Then history and biography
Then treatises and general works
Then law, regulation and state relations
Then study and teaching, research and textbooks
And finally, subjects and subdivisions of subjects

22. LCC notation
Mixed notation
One to three letters
Followed by one to four integers
And possibly a short decimal
Decimals were not used much until certain
sections needed to be expanded and no more
integers were available
Decimals do not generally indicate
subordination but allow a new topic to be
inserted

23. LCC notation
LCC notations can be expanded through
mnemonic letter-number combinations
Can represent geographic, personal,
corporate or topical names
Subordinated to schedule notations where
an instruction to subdivide “A-Z” appears
LCC interpretation of “cutter numbers”
is always a decimal (HG 509 follows HG
51 but precedes HG 5018)

24. LCC
Catalogers should be able to break down an
LC call number into its components
Catalogers should be able to create
reasonably consistent notations which fit into
LCC and their unique holdings
LCC is loosely coordinated and pragmatic
Aims to class closely and then identify uniquely
Perfectionists used to DDC’s rigidity will have
trouble using LCC

25. Questions?

26. Assignment
Complete homework handout
Search an OPAC for a title
View the MARC record
Look for the DDC and the LCC numbers
Note those and any locally-used call #
In your opinion, for that particular title, which
scheme suits the title better for the type of
library to which the OPAC belongs, DDC or LCC?