OUR Cataloging Policy covers classification of our materials. This follows Intner and Weihs' (2015) advice, "decisions regarding classification and shelving made in a library and media center should be carefully documented in writing and maintained in a file with other cataloging policies and procedures. Members of the staff and users of the collections can consult the written record to learn what to do as well as to understand why things are done that way. This ensures continuity when veteran classifiers retire and are replaces by new people" (p. 127).
Major considerations We use the Dewey Decimal classification system and include numbers with three decimal places. Call numbers include uppercase letters as well as numbers.
Nonfiction Reference: REFERENCE + DDC number + first three letters of the author's last name Nonfiction: NONFIC + DDC number + first letter of the author's last name Biography: BIO + the full name of the subject
Fiction Fiction: FICTION + first three letters of author's last name YA Fiction: YAFIC + first letter of the author's last name Holiday: HOLIDAY + first letter of the author's last name
Graphic novel: GN + first three letters of the author's last name
Awards: full name of the award + first letter of the author's last name (i.e. NEWBERY B)
Local: LOCAL + DDC + first three letters of the author's last name
Curriculum: CURRICULUM + DDC + first three letters of the author's last name
Audiovisual: type (i.e. DVD) + DDC + first three letters of the title
Equipment: type + number in inventory (i.e. 3/5) The options for this include DVD, CD, TV, as well as the following abbreviations for different types, such as PR (Projector), SM (SmartBoard), DC (Digital Camera), DVC (Digital Video Camera), MIC (Microphone), LPC (Laptop Computer), and PTS (Printer/Scanner).
Shelving With the exception of fiction, graphic novels, and other special sections, which is shelved alphabetically by the author's last name, and biography, which is shelved alphabetically by the subject's last name, materials are shelved chronologically by the Dewey Decimal number (DDC) and then shelved alphabetically by the author's last name.
Reference Intner, S. S., & Weihs, J. (2015). Standard cataloging for school and public libraries (5th ed.). Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited.