Library of Congress Classification

Since April 2009 OIL has begun classifying new books using the Library of Congress Classification Scheme (LCC). This is to conform to Oxford University Library standards.

What do LC Classmarks look like?

Many will already be familiar with LC classmarks from the Social Science Library, the Radcliffe Science Library or the Vere Harmsworth Library. There are two main elements: Class number and Item number.

The Class number element describes the main subject of a book e.g. Religion/Language & Literature/etc. As well as class and/or sub-class it may also contain a topical or form Cutter number, which can identify, for example, a place or person under discussion.

The Item number element consists of a Cutter number for the main entry - Oxford uses the first three letters of the author’s surname or the title in the case of edited works. Dates of publication are added to achieve a further level of division.

Example:

M.C.A. Macdonald., Literacy and Identity in Pre-Islamic Arabia (2007)

Shelfmark: DS231 MAC 2007

DS231 = class number

MAC 2007 = item number

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