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<font size=3>I can tell you about the classification schemes in Beinecke
Library, a closed stack library.<br><br>
Up until about 1970, everything was classed using the "Yale
Classification" scheme, a pre LC classification. Some
collections are still classed in that classification (e.g., Yale
Collection of American Literature in Za; Western Americana in Zc; Yale
Collection of German Literature in Zg). What is important about
these is that the schemes are based on the first edition and all other
printings, editions of a work class together. The Za and Zg are
author based. Zc had a one to one correspondence with subject
headings. In the old card catalog, there would be a "see/see
also" card from the subject heading to the classification. The
shelf cards were in the public catalog. Curators (and others) could
look at the cards and see what exactly Beinecke had, which is probably
the reason why these classifications were kept. <br><br>
We have many "name" collections--usually the collector/donor,
etc.--with a scheme following that is either numerical (e.g., Baskin 1,
Baskin 2, etc.) or Cuttered (Marinetti Ad67). We also have a large
collection of "tracts" (American Tracts, British Tracts,
European Tracts, Latin American Tracts) that are classed by country and
then by date. Our general collection now gets Year/Number Call
Numbers (2003 1, 2003 2, etc; 2003 Folio S1, 2003 Folio S2, etc.,
etc.) Broadsides get a variation of this scheme. We also have
many bound pamphlet collections (College Pamphlets, Plays, Slaver
Pamphlets, etc.)<br><br>
We stopped the "Yale Classification" because the Yale Library
was stopping it moving to LC Classification. It was decided at that
point that since the library was closed stacks, we would assign the very
easy Year/Number. There were several reasons for this: it saves a
tremendous amount of time (which translates into more books cataloged);
books in the old "Yale Classification" that were not going to
be added to, as well as the new Year/Number, could be compacted on the
shelves--more books fit on the shelves and there is less shifting.
The downside of this is that when a reader comes in and is looking for a
specific subject, title, author, etc., the materials can be all over the
place--different floors, etc. and it makes the paging more
difficult. <br><br>
Hope this is what you are looking for.<br><br>
Jane Gillis<br><br>
We continued to class for those collections that it really made sense,
and that the curators wanted.<br><br>
At 01:33 PM 5/1/2003 Thursday-0500, you wrote:<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>Colleagues: As a lapsed
cataloger who has forgotten much of the<br>
theoretical underpinnings, I would very much appreciate your
opinions,<br>
local practices, or references to articles on the following
question:<br><br>
Why do we assign classification numbers in books in a closed stack such
as<br>
a rare book library? Do your libraries assign them? I am not
referring<br>
to named collections here.<br><br>
I would appreciate practical as well as theoretical reasons.<br><br>
I miss the good times we had in New Haven. Best wishes, Barbara
Jones</blockquote>
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Jane Gillis | Rare Book Cataloger| Sterling Memorial Library<br>
Yale University | New Haven CT 06520<br>
(203)432-2633 (voice) | (203)432-4047 (fax) | jane.gillis@yale.edu<br>
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