Module 3: The Superintendent Of Documents
(Sudocs) Classification System

Filing Government Publications

Filing rules differ from library to library. The following are suggestions.
File punctuation as though nothing were there.
Nothing, including spaces and punctuation (except for the colon), files before something. For example:
 

C 56.246/2: TC72-T20
C 56.246/2: TC72C1-6

Before the colon:
 
  1. File by the letter or letters at the beginning of the classification number.
  2. File next by the whole number up to the period.
  3. File next by the whole number up to the separation mark (the slash or colon).
  4. In general, the order of filing punctuation before the colon is:

    • Period
    • Slash
    • Dash

Practice Question:

File the class stem:
Numerically
 Alphabetically
 Alphabetically until the colon, then numerically
 By opening letter and then whole numbers up to each piece of punctuation

Page 12 of 14



Next Page Return to the Home Page Additional Resources Test Your Knowledge Module 3 Module 2 Begin Module 1 Help with the Tutorial Previous Page Federal Depository Library Program Home Page Filing Govdocs SuDoc Book Numbers SuDoc Class Stems Parts of Numbers Introduction to Mod 3 Item Selection Additional Resources Test Your Knowledge Module 1 Help with the Tutorial