Technews Bulletin
July/August 2001
ISSUE #12
**SHAKESPEARE**SHAKESPEARE**SHAKESPEARE**
"What do the extra numbers mean on the Shakespeare call
numbers?"
"How are these books shelved?"
Last June the TechNews Bulletin discussed Cutters, what they are
and how we use them. As a quick reminder, Cutters are the 3 letters
that come after the DDC number. Some libraries use the
Cutter-Sanborn table which give each title unique classification. We
use the first three letters of the author's last name (or title in
the absence of an author) as our Cuttering system. This works well
to keep the books in good shelf order. But for some large sections,
such as Shakespeare, many titles have the same DDC number and
Cutter. This makes it difficult to arrange on the shelf (and find)
all these different works.
Our collection of Shakespeare includes the individual plays,
complete plays, complete works, criticism of his work, and sonnets.
All of these, except the sonnets, are classed in the unique Dewey
number for Shakespeare, 822.33. Over the years, as the collection
grew, it was becoming harder to keep the individual works together
on the shelves as well as any criticisms that discussed those works,
since everything had the same call number. The Dewey system has a
table specifically for Shakespeare's works which we've been using
for the past few years. For example, if you were looking for the
comedy, Much ado about nothing, you would currently find the play in
822.33 Sha Q1 and the criticism of the same play in 822.33 Sha Q2.
This arrangement allows the play (Q1) to be shelved together and all
the criticisms (Q2) to be placed together next to the play on the
shelf. His complete works are classed in either 822.33 Sha I or
822.33 Sha J (complete works in English/with or without notes) and
general criticisms of his works are in
822.33 Sha D. By using these special Cutters, books by and about
Shakespeare and his works are arranged in a manner that will be
easier to shelve and browse.
This newsletter editor would appreciate your suggestions for
future issues.
Please send them to Sue Bermann, Technical Services (or e-mail bermanns@pbclibrary.org)
|
