Document: Call number format (parsing) in OCLC and OSCAR P.6
Date: 2001 Feb. 15. (Issued 1996 Dec. 16)
Issued by: Cataloging Dept. (nvp)
Guidelines and Policies
The following guidelines apply to call number formatting (parsing) in OCLC bibliographic
records, and in OSCAR bibliographic and item records (excluding temporary records for closed
reserves). These guidelines apply to all libraries participating in OSCAR. Some spaces in call
numbers in OCLC are eliminated in OSCAR.
I. OCLC: call number parsing
When editing or adding LC call numbers to OCLC records, follow OCLC standards for spacing
and punctuation between call number elements. A period is a decimal mark.
Include one space before and after subfield b ($b)
between cutters
before and after dates used in the call number
Include a period before the first cutter
within in a classification, if appropriate
One cutter: DS805 $b .C6 1992 [spaces around delimiter + subfield letter]
QP76.5 $b .R7 1989 [one space before date]
Two cutters: PS3560.A85 $b D7 1991 [spaces around delimiter + subfield letter]
BT768.3.O95 $b P7 1992 [note: letter "oh" is not zero]
Three cutters: PR6021.E53 Z8 $b R92 1990 [space before second cutter]
PR199.3.I74 Z8 $b K7 1986
Date + one cutter: DK274.3 1968 $b .K39 1998
Two cutters, G6714.B72 1986 |b .F3
separated by date
Class number with DJK769.T65 $b R9 1998
3 letters
II. OSCAR bibliographic and item records: call number parsing
Parsing (formatting) of call numbers in OSCAR differs from OCLC, especially in use of spaces.
(e.g. no space before or after subfield $b, but always put one space before an ending date).
Call number parsing is the same in both bibliographic and item records.
1. Call numbers in bibliographic records
The assigned call number should appear twice (be repeated) in OSCAR bib records.
Add or edit both call number fields correctly so that the call number is indexed properly in both
OSCAR and OhioLINK central. Always use correct MARC tag.
In the Summary display, only one call should appear at the top of the screen.
The indexing is not working, and the record should be corrected, if:
two call numbers display
no call number displays
the wrong call number displays
2. Call numbers in item records
A call numbers is included in an item record when it is different from the call number in the bib
record, e.g. when adding duplicate holding to an OSCAR record already cataloged by another
cataloging agency. The different call number should be put in the added item record (I>, c,
MARC tag, call number). This also applies to government documents which may be cataloged
both in LC and in SuDoc for a single cataloging agency. Use MARC tags 090, 092, 099, 086.
LC call numbers (090 field)
One cutter: DS805$b.C6 1992 [no spaces around delimiter+subfield letter]
QP76.5$b.R7 1989 [one space before ending date]
Two cutters: PS3560.A85$bD7 1991 [no spaces around delimiter+subfield letter]
BT768.3.O95$bP7 1992 [note: letter "oh" is not zero]
Three cutters: PR6021.E53 Z8$bR92 1990 [one space before second cutter]
PR9199.3.I74 Z8$bK7 1986 [also one space before ending date]
Date + one cutter: DK274.3 1968$b.K39 [one space before date]
Two cutters, G6714.B72 1986$b.F3 [one space before date]
separated by date
Class number with DJK769.T65$bR9 1998 [no spaces except before date]
3 letters
Format designators: LB2834$b.C6 1993 Microfilm [space before date and suffix]
PN1997$b.L36 1994 Videotape
TR374.D4$bR3 1990 Phonotape cassette
Index or suppl.: GV342.D6$bE8 1982 Index
PL3423.K7 Z8$bB8 Suppl.
Dewey Decimal call numbers (092 field)
Always put subfield b ($b) after the Dewey class number; no space except before a date.
001.2$bSCH66L 1988
873.4$bS345C 1988
976.2345$bR34L39 1987
Superintendent of Documents call numbers (086 field)
Spacing in OSCAR remains the same as it is in OCLC.
For more information, see: http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/ecbdclas.html#mrcb086
Y 4.G 74/7:C 61/3
ED 1.2:B 76/2/SPAN
HEU/G74.3C49
Other call numbers (local; 099 field)
Input call number according to prescribed format for type of local number.
Thesis-OSU THE:ACC1989PHDA43
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