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Summary: 

Local classification practice for the Comic Art Collection utilizing an adapted version of Library of Congress Classification.



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Background

Classification of comics at MSU Libraries employs an adapted version of PN6700 through PN6790 of the Library of Congress Classification system. This adaptation was first developed by Randy Scott. His internal documentation for this adaptation explains:

The Comic Art Collection in the Michigan State University Libraries is the largest comics collection ever classified using the Library of Congress call number system, and to do so we have felt it necessary to make some adjustments and innovations. These are spelled out more completely in chapter 4 of Comics Librarianship (Jefferson, NC : McFarland & Company, 1990)

All comics cataloged for the Comic Art Collection in Special Collections will observe these local treatments. Catalogers should take care to observe the existing shelflisting (i.e. browse by call number) when assigning Cutter numbers for alphabetical arrangement of comics by title or author. The sheer volume of comics cataloged at MSU has made it necessary in most cases to make significant digressions from the LC Cutter table (CSM G 63).

Author vs. Artist numbers

Longstanding Historical practice at MSU is was to provide Cutter numbers for comic artist as a priority over comic author (i.e. illustrator vs. writer). Predominant practice in available copy will be the opposite, as

Beginning in 2024, give preference to the author, per guidance from the best practices of LC and of the ALA Graphic Novels and Comics Round Table prioritize the role of the author/writer. As much as possible, catalogers should abide by precedent set in the existing shelflisting when classifying comics for individual writers or illustrators already present in the collection. If no precedent is established, catalogers should rely on their own judgment until existing practice can be considered later in 2023.

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Comic books, strips, etc.

These ranges parallel PN6700-PN6720 of LC Classification

ClassificationCaption
PN6700Periodicals, societies, etc.
PN6702Congresses
PN6705Exhibitions, museums, etc.
PN6707Encyclopedias, dictionaries
PN6710General works including history
PN6712Moral and religious aspects
PN6714Other special topics
PN6720General collections


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By Region or Country

ClassificationCaption
PN6725-6728United States (see local development below)
PN6731-6734Canada
PN6735-6738Great Britain
PN6745-6748France and French-speaking Belgium and Switzerland
PN6755-6758Germany, Austria and German-speaking Switzerland
PN6765-6768Italy
PN6775-6778Spain
PN6790Other regions or countries, A-Z

This system divides the numbers for each country as follows:

  1. History
  2. Collections
  3. Individual author numbers, A-Z
  4. Individual comics by title, A-Z

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Local development for U.S. comics

Local classificationScope
PN6728.1Golden Age comic books of the United States, titles beginning in the years from 1935 to 1949, by publisher, A-Z, then by title.
PN6728.15"Eight-pagers" or "Tijuana bibles": pornographic comic books often illegally using newspaper comic strip characters of the 1920s through 1950s, by title.
PN6728.2Fifties comic books of the United States, titles beginning in the years from 1950 to 1959, by publisher, then by title.
PN6728.25Propaganda, educational and giveaway comic books published in the United States, by publisher, A-Z, then by title.
PN6728.3Silver Age comic books of the United States, titles beginning in the years from 1960 to 1969, by publisher, A-Z, then by title.
PN6728.4Seventies comic books of the United States, except undergrounds, titles beginning in the years from 1970 to 1979, by publisher, then by title.
PN6728.45Underground comic books of the United States, titles beginning in the years from about 1967, by publisher, A-Z, then by title.
PN6728.5Eighties mainstream or color comic books of the United States, titles beginning in the years from 1980 to 1989, by publisher, A-Z, then by title.
PN6728.55New wave comix, minis, other amateur and self-published zines of the United States, including black and white explosion comic books, artist jams and 24-hour comics. Titles beginning from about 1980, by publisher or creator, A-Z, then by title.
PN6728.6Nineties comic books of the United States, titles beginning in the years from 1990 to 1999, by publisher, A-Z, then by title.
PN6728.721st century decade one comic books of the United States, titles beginning in the years from 2000 to 2009, by publisher, A-Z, then by title.
PN6728.75Webcomics in print. Printed magazine style comic books originating as web comics, by publisher, A-Z, then by title.
PN6728.8Teens comic books of the United States, titles beginning in the years from 2010 to 2019, by publisher, A-Z, then by title.
PN6728.9Twenty-twenties comic books of the United States, titles beginning in the years from 2020 to 2029, by publisher A-Z, then by title.

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Local development for PN6790

In the case of PN6790 for Other regions or countries, A-Z the divisions according to individual author numbers result in a local practice of triple Cutter numbers (only the first of which receives a decimal). For example:

Yuzuki, Hikaru, 1949-

Minna agechau / Yuzuki Hikaru

PN6790.J33 Y8 M5 1983

  • PN6790 = Other regions or countries, A-Z
  • .J33 = Japan; individual author number division
    • J3 is the region or country Cutter for Japan; the additional 3 is the division for individual authors
  • Y8 = Cutter for author as primary entry: Yuzuki, Hikaru, 1949-
  • M5 = Cutter for title: Minna agechau
  • 1983 = year of publication

Please note that other divisions for Collections and for Individual comics by title, A-Z under PN6790 can also result in triple Cutters in exceptional circumstances. Review the local shelflisting to confirm best practice in each case.

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  • All comics cataloged for the Comic Art Collection in Special Collections will observe these local treatments.
  • Not necessarily applicable to comics cataloged for other locations, though local call numbers may be used outside SPC for added copies, etc.
  • Catalogers should take care to observe the existing shelflisting (i.e. browse by call number) when assigning Cutter numbers for alphabetical arrangement of comics by title or author.


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ContactJoshua Barton
TeamCMS
UpdatedMay 2023February 2024
CreatedMay 2023