Comics Classification
Summary:
Local classification practice for the Comic Art Collection utilizing an adapted version of Library of Congress Classification. See the Special Collections (comics) procedures page for general instructions on cataloging SPC comics.
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:
Most comics cataloged for Special Collections will observe these local treatments, principally those purchased by the Comics Librarian for the Comic Art Collection (see further information in the next section). 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).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)
Author vs. Artist numbers
Historical practice at MSU was to provide Cutter numbers for comic artist as a priority over comic author (i.e. illustrator vs. writer).
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.
Applicable materials and exceptions
Apply this local classification practice to:
- Comics acquired by the Comics Librarian for the Comic Art Collection in Special Collections.
- Secondary materials about comics (where there are applicable PN classification numbers for such material) acquired by the Comics Librarian for the Comic Art Collection in Special Collections.
- Comic zines purchased by the Zine Librarian when the comic nature of the material is its primary characteristic (i.e. it is not primarily a queer zine, punk fanzine, etc.).
- Unless otherwise specified by the acquiring librarian, comics acquired by other Special Collections curators that could be classed for an artist/author for whom we already have an established author/artist comics call number.
- Any added volumes of a comic serial or multipart monograph that are already cataloged at a comics call number.
Do not apply this local classification practice to:
- Comics acquired by any other librarian than the Comics Librarian, unless as otherwise specified above. Apply literature or topical classifications as appropriate.
- Comics identified by the acquiring librarian as destined for an item location other than SPCMC and SPRCM; catalog these for their intended location. Do not route to Comic Art. Apply literature or topical classifications as appropriate.
- Comics and related materials acquired for locations outside of Special Collections (e.g. any Children's & YA Lit collection in Main).
- Comics outside of Special Collections may still receive PN numbers per regular LC classification practice, but they will not receive the local developments for US comics nor for PN6790 outlined below.
Comic books, strips, etc.
These ranges parallel PN6700-PN6720 of LC Classification
| Classification | Caption |
|---|---|
| PN6700 | Periodicals, societies, etc. |
| PN6702 | Congresses |
| PN6705 | Exhibitions, museums, etc. |
| PN6707 | Encyclopedias, dictionaries |
| PN6710 | General works including history |
| PN6712 | Moral and religious aspects |
| PN6714 | Other special topics |
| PN6720 | General collections |
By Region or Country
| Classification | Caption |
|---|---|
| PN6725-6728 | United States (see local development below) |
| PN6731-6734 | Canada |
| PN6735-6738 | Great Britain |
| PN6745-6748 | France and French-speaking Belgium and Switzerland |
| PN6755-6758 | Germany, Austria and German-speaking Switzerland |
| PN6765-6768 | Italy |
| PN6775-6778 | Spain |
| PN6790 | Other regions or countries, A-Z |
This system divides the numbers for each country as follows:
- History
- Collections
- Individual author numbers, A-Z
- Individual comics by title, A-Z
Local development for U.S. comics
| Local classification | Scope |
|---|---|
| PN6728.1 | Golden 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. |
| PN6728.2 | Fifties comic books of the United States, titles beginning in the years from 1950 to 1959, by publisher, then by title. |
| PN6728.25 | Propaganda, educational and giveaway comic books published in the United States, by publisher, A-Z, then by title. |
| PN6728.3 | Silver Age comic books of the United States, titles beginning in the years from 1960 to 1969, by publisher, A-Z, then by title. |
| PN6728.4 | Seventies comic books of the United States, except undergrounds, titles beginning in the years from 1970 to 1979, by publisher, then by title. |
| PN6728.45 | Underground comic books of the United States, titles beginning in the years from about 1967, by publisher, A-Z, then by title. |
| PN6728.5 | Eighties 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. |
| PN6728.55 | New 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. |
| PN6728.6 | Nineties comic books of the United States, titles beginning in the years from 1990 to 1999, by publisher, A-Z, then by title. |
| PN6728.7 | 21st 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. |
| PN6728.75 | Webcomics in print. Printed magazine style comic books originating as web comics, by publisher, A-Z, then by title. |
| PN6728.8 | Teens comic books of the United States, titles beginning in the years from 2010 to 2019, by publisher, A-Z, then by title. |
| PN6728.9 | Twenty-twenties comic books of the United States, titles beginning in the years from 2020 to 2029, by publisher A-Z, then by title. |
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.
- 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.
| Contact | Joshua Barton |
| Team | CMS |
| Updated | April 2024 |
| Created | May 2023 |