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Project summary/background

Education librarian Elizabeth Webster has proposed a reclass and shelving reorganization of the children’s literature collection. To accomplish this, we will be creating customized call numbers for each title and entering them into Sierra records.

Fiction, nonfiction, and graphic novels will each be handled differently. See below.

Project instructions

Start with this spreadsheet. There are tabs for fiction and nonfiction.

Graphic novels and poetry will need to be identified out of both these lists as you go, and set aside for now. They will be handled differently and those plans are still being formed.

Fiction

Fiction will be divided into 3 separate categories: children, middle grade, and young adult.

This does not include graphic novels and poetry, which are treated differently. For now, mark any graphic novels or poetry you come across in the spreadsheet and we’ll return to them later.

1. Determine the age range of the book in question

   • Children = any title with |f picture in the call number

   • Middle grade = any title highlighted on the spreadsheet

   • Young adult = any title not highlighted, with no |f picture in the call number (i.e., chapter books)

2. Formulate the call number using the age range code and the author’s last name or, in the case of title main entry, the first word of the title (skipping any initial articles)

3. Enter the call number in an 099 field

• Remember: no spaces before or after delimiters in Sierra!

• Examples:
  099__|fC|aFaulkner

• 099__|fMG|aLindgren

4. Ensure the 099 is y-tagged

5. Save the record

Nonfiction

Nonfiction will be classified using Dewey, and numbers should not expand beyond 2 digits after the decimal. Nonfiction titles will be divided into two age ranges: children and young adult.

This does not include graphic novels and poetry, which are treated differently. For now, mark any graphic novels or poetry you come across in the spreadsheet and we’ll return to them later.

1. Determine the age range of the book in question

   • Children = any title with |f picture in the call number

   • Young adult = no |f picture in the call number (i.e., chapter books)

2. Navigate to http://classify.oclc.org/

   • Perform a search on your title

   • Select the correct edition

   • Use the provided Dewey class number

3. If the Classify service has no suggestion, try these alternative strategies:

   • Navigate to ClassWeb and select the Bibliographic Correlations tool

     • Enter the title’s primary subject heading in the search box, using two dashes between subdivisions

     • If there is a clear choice, use the provided Dewey class number

   • Search the title in WorldCat and look for Dewey classification in existing copy records

   • Search these catalogs:

     • University of South Florida in St. Pete

     • Arizona State University

     • New York Public Library

   • If none of these methods are successful, mark the item as “needs original” and move on to the next entry.

4. Formulate and enter the new call number as shown:

(In most cases, just reuse the cutter and year from the existing LC call number; otherwise, formulate the cutter as you would normally.)

7. Enter the call number in an 082_4 field

• Examples:
  082_4 |f C |a 951.05 |b J53 2008

8. Ensure the 082 is y-tagged

9. Save the record

Graphic novels & poetry

More details coming soon.