Shelving Music ScoresShelving Music Scores

Music LibraryMusic Library

East Carolina UniversityEast Carolina University

Greenville, NC 27858Greenville, NC 27858

LC Call Number SystemLC Call Number System

The Music Library uses the Library of The Music Library uses the Library of Congress (LC) call number system to Congress (LC) call number system to shelve print items such as music scores shelve print items such as music scores and books.and books.

For this particular tutorial we will only For this particular tutorial we will only concentrate on shelving scores, which file concentrate on shelving scores, which file into class “M” of the LC system.into class “M” of the LC system.

MM ““M” tells you that this M” tells you that this item is item is printed musicprinted music or a score.or a score.

MM

2323

The number found after The number found after the general subject the general subject heading of “M”, breaks heading of “M”, breaks down the subject area down the subject area even more. even more.

So far the call number So far the call number tells us that we have a tells us that we have a piece of printed music that piece of printed music that is a piano sonata.is a piano sonata.

MM2323B414B414

The third line of the call The third line of the call number is called the number is called the Cutter.Cutter.

The Cutter number is The Cutter number is named after its creator: named after its creator: Charles Ammi Cutter.Charles Ammi Cutter.

The Cutter represents a The Cutter represents a name or title. name or title. In this case: In this case: B414 = Beethoven.B414 = Beethoven.

This score is a piano This score is a piano sonata by Beethoven.sonata by Beethoven.

More on the “Cutter”…More on the “Cutter”…

Cutter numbers will always have the same format: Cutter numbers will always have the same format: A single capital letter followed by a number:A single capital letter followed by a number:C4, B13, G42, etc.C4, B13, G42, etc.

The number is always read The number is always read decimallydecimally..C49C49 comes before comes before C5C5 (.49 is less than .5)(.49 is less than .5)

B414B414 comes before comes before B42B42 (.414 is less than .42)(.414 is less than .42)

It may help you to imagine a zero at the end of the It may help you to imagine a zero at the end of the shorter numbers:shorter numbers:

B414 comes before B42B414 comes before B4200

Ordering Cutter numbers Ordering Cutter numbers decimally…decimally…

MM MM MM MM MM

100100 100100 100100 100100100100

B134B134 B2B2 B39B39 B4B4 B5B5

Remember, you can Remember, you can add zeros add zeros if it helps…if it helps…

.134.134 thenthen .2.20000 thenthen .39.3900 thenthen .4.40000 thenthen .5.50000

More decimals…More decimals…

MM MM MM MM

2323 2323 2323 2323

C13C13 C13C13 C13C13 C13C13

F5F5 F51F51 F597F597 F6F6

Adding zeros…Adding zeros…

.5.50000 thenthen .51 .5100 thenthen .597 .597 thenthen .6 .60000

The fourth line of the The fourth line of the call number can be call number can be another Cutter, or it another Cutter, or it can be any number of can be any number of other things that we other things that we call “additional call “additional elements.”elements.”

MM

2323

B414B414

C7C7

Additional Elements…Additional Elements…

Additional elements give you even more Additional elements give you even more information about an item.information about an item.Shelve the additional elements in alphabetical Shelve the additional elements in alphabetical order. Shelve dates in numerical order after the order. Shelve dates in numerical order after the alphabetical sequencealphabetical sequenceAny numbers associated with additional Any numbers associated with additional elements are read aselements are read as WHOLE numbersWHOLE numbers..

op. 17op. 17 BWV 109BWV 109 no. 3no. 3

W. 23W. 23 K. 325K. 325

19871987

v. 1v. 1 v. 2v. 2 c. 2 c. 2

An example of additional elements An example of additional elements in in whole numberwhole number order. order.

MM MM MM MM

20232023 20232023 20232023 20232023

B16B16 B16B16 B16B16 B16B16

BWV 11BWV 11 BWV 102BWV 102 BWV 124BWV 124 S. 12S. 12

C3C3 19411941 19961996 W4W4

19971997 1997z1997z

Another example…Another example…

MM MM MM MM MM

33 33 33 33 33

B1133B1133 B1133B1133 B1133B1133 B1133B1133 B1133B1133

ser. 1ser. 1 ser. 1ser. 1 ser. 2ser. 2 ser. 2ser. 2 ser. 2ser. 2

v. 3v. 3 v. 4v. 4 v. 5v. 5 v. 5v. 5 v. 5v. 5

c. 2c. 2 c. 3c. 3

of putting additional elements in whole number order.

Yet another example…Yet another example…

MM MM MM MM MM

20202020 20202020 20202020 20202020 20202020

B16B16 B16B16 B16B16 B16B16 B16B16

BWV 106BWV 106 BWV 106BWV 106 BWV 106BWV 106 BWV 106BWV 106 BWV 106BWV 106

no. 1no. 1 no. 2no. 2 19821982 19851985

19901990

of putting additional elements in whole number order.

A few definitions…A few definitions…

op.op. = Opus number = Opus number A number assigned to a musical compositionA number assigned to a musical composition

no.no. = Serial number = Serial number Indicates the order of composition and/or Indicates the order of composition and/or

publicationpublication

19231923 = Date of publication = Date of publication Often the last element in the call numberOften the last element in the call number

Thematic Index NumberThematic Index Number A unique number assigned by the compiler of a A unique number assigned by the compiler of a

thematic index to each composition in the index. thematic index to each composition in the index.

Examples: Examples: BWV 100BWV 100; ; W. 23W. 23; ; D. 759D. 759;; K. 36 K. 36

So what is a thematic index?So what is a thematic index?

A list of all the compositions by a particularA list of all the compositions by a particular

composer. The person compiling the list will usuallycomposer. The person compiling the list will usually

assign a unique number to each piece. Sometimes itassign a unique number to each piece. Sometimes it

is easier to identify a piece by its thematic indexis easier to identify a piece by its thematic index

number when searching the library catalog. number when searching the library catalog.

Just a few more…Just a few more…

v.v. = volume = volume A large work may be broken down into A large work may be broken down into

separate, smaller books or scores. Each one separate, smaller books or scores. Each one of these items would be a volume. of these items would be a volume.

c.c. = copy = copy If the library has multiple copies of the same If the library has multiple copies of the same

item, the call number will indicate which copy item, the call number will indicate which copy it is.it is.

Take Note!Take Note!

MM MM

1621.41621.4 1621.41621.4

B47B47 B47B47

N8N8 N8N8

19551955

Nothing comes before Something

NothingNothing comes before comes before Something:Something:another example…another example…

MM MM

352352 352352

C12C12 C12C12

op. op. 11

And one more…And one more…

MM MM

10011001 10011001

B414B414 B414B414

op. 2op. 2 op. 2op. 2

no. 1no. 1 no. 1no. 1

c. 2c. 2

When shelving items with When shelving items with additional elements, the additional elements, the “Nothing“Nothing beforebefore Something”Something” rule becomes very rule becomes very important in a important in a different way. different way.

All additional elements All additional elements are considered are considered “Nothing”“Nothing”..

You would then consider You would then consider Cutter numbers Cutter numbers “Something”.“Something”.

MM MM

2323 2323

B414B414 B414B414

op. 27op. 27 C7C7

no. 2no. 2

19231923

Why are additional elements Why are additional elements considered “nothing”?considered “nothing”?

Additional elements are seen as extensions of the Additional elements are seen as extensions of the Cutter number immediately preceding them.Cutter number immediately preceding them.

You can look at it this way:You can look at it this way:

MM comes beforecomes before MM

2323 2323

B414, op. 27, no. 2, 1983B414, op. 27, no. 2, 1983 B414B414

C23C23

NothingNothing comes before comes before SomethingSomething

MM MM MM MM MM

2323 2323 2323 2323 2323

B414B414 B414B414 B414B414 B414B414 B414B414

op. 7op. 7 op. 10op. 10 op. 57op. 57 C7C7H38H38

Notice how the additional elements come before the Cutter numbers.

Also notice how the additional elements are filed in whole number order.

Another way to look at it…Another way to look at it…

MM MM MM MM MM

2323 2323 2323 2323 2323

B414, op. 7B414, op. 7 B414, op. 10B414, op. 10 B414, op. 57B414, op. 57 B414B414 B414B414

C7C7H38H38

NothingNothing comes beforecomes before Something Something

One more example…One more example…

MM M M MM M M

1630.11630.1 1630.1 1630.1 1630.11630.1 1630.1 1630.1

R63R63 R63 R63 R63R63 R63 R63

v. 1v. 1 v. 2 v. 2 A13A13 A2 A2 Nothing (additional elements) Something (Cutter no.’s)

Whole number order Numbers read decimally

Remember…Remember…

a misshelved item, is a a misshelved item, is a LOSTLOST item. item.

Always ask a staff member if you need help Always ask a staff member if you need help shelving items in the library.shelving items in the library.

Thank you.Thank you.