DATES IN CALL NUMBERS

This article contains a description of Library of Congress' policy regarding the use of dates in call numbers and was reviewed by Paul Weiss, Subject Cataloging Specialist in LC's Cataloging Policy and Support Office.

Many of the Class K schedules call for subarrangement of titles by date and this is indicated either in the schedules themselves or in the form divisions. The Subject Cataloging Manual: Shelflisting documents other cases when dates are to be added to call numbers. LC adds publication dates to the call numbers for monographs in most cases. Remember that LC does not use dates in the call numbers for serials. The manual on shelflisting has two memos that we should use: "Dates G140" and "Conferences, Congresses, Meetings, etc. G230." Please note that G140 deals with loose-leafs. Also, although the memo deals with loose-leaf services, LC does not use dates in the call numbers for loose-leaf treatises and there has been some inconsistency following these instructions. G140 also gives instructions for the use of imprint date for editions and facsimile or photocopy editions.

There seems to be a booming business reprinting law books. Whereas LC would use the imprint date for these reprints, some law libraries are choosing to use the original date with a work letter to distinguish the reprint from the original.

I don't know why some catalogers are bothered that some K class numbers have no cutter numbers and use only dates. Dates are easy to assign. The reason for so many dates in the K schedules is that our users like dates. Chronology and date of event mean something to lawyers. They want to know when a law was enacted, a decision decided, a treaty signed. Using the date held for congresses instead of cuttering by main entry tells a user something about the time frame of the subject of the conference. A conference on taxation held in 1980 will not contain current tax code information.

It is the importance of dates that has led to the many ways the K schedules incorporate dates. The form divisions call for dates of enactments, of signing, of publication, and so on. Since the K schedules were written by five different people over 30 years, there are a variety of practices. The KF form division tables use both "By date" and "By date of publication." When LC uses "By date," it means by date of publication. In the later schedules, you will find just "By date" for date of publication. Some of the form tables have conferences and congresses "By date of event," which is date the conference was held. Individual laws, regulations, and treaties use successive cutter numbers for date of enactment or date of signing for treaties. Later K schedules use [date] to incorporate the date of signing or enactment into the decimal or cutter so that you do not have to guess at successive cutter numbers.

In the schedules themselves, you will find "By date," "By date of enactment," "Initial date of hearing," and so on. Again, "By date" means by date of publication. If you are to use another date, the schedule will specify the type of date. In the European country schedules under the "Under each court or court system" arrangement which precedes Table A number 18, you will see .A35[date] with no instruction. In that case the [date] is for beginning date of publication or best guess.

The SCORPIO database, to which many of us have access, allows call number searches of the Library of Congress database to see what date has been used for codes, treaties, decisions, etc. The thing we all decide is when to deviate from LC, when we follow their policy as best we can interpret it, and what we do when they change their policies.

» N.B.: LC CLASSIFICATION ADDITIONS AND CHANGES, LIST 263 has the changes to the KF form divisions for topics with cutter numbers.