LC Call Numbers - Dash End

What is this?

Most LC call numbers should not have a dash at the end, but sometimes they do.

Why is this trouble?

A call number ending with a dash may be an indicator that some other type of call number (like SuDoc) has been marked as an LC call number:

  • TD 2.8:B 76/3/990/V.1- (SuDoc)
  • A105.10/2:S- (SuDoc)
  • W1 EU65 v.81- 2000- (NLM)
  • Oklahoma - geology - 1955- (local scheme)

A call number ending with a dash may be an indicator that the date was unknown and the incomplete form with dashes (as may have been found in the bib record) was used in the call number:

  • PQ6331 .A3 192- (should be PQ6331 .A3 1920z)
  • PR4892 .A4 18-- (should be PR4892 .A4 1800z)

A call number with this pattern may cause confusion with shelving or finding a book. Which order would these books go in? 

PQ      PQ      PQ
6331    6331    6331
.A3     .A3     .A3
192-    1920    1924

A call number constructed with the year as 1920z provides clearer indication that that book would come after 1920, before 1924.

A call number ending with a dash may be an indicator of a set within a series, and may be more clearly indicated with etc.:

  • G161 .H2 3rd ser., no.16- (should be G161 ‡b .H2 3rd ser., no. 16, etc.)

A dash at the end of a call number may also just be stray punctuation:

  • PQ2623.E39 M6 1924- (should be PQ2623.E39 M6 1924)

Exceptions

I don't know of any valid LC call numbers ending in dash.

How to Find

If you are in Alma, there is an analysis to search for this issue in the "Looking for Trouble" folder. Go to the "LC Call Numbers" folder and look for the "Dash End" analysis.

If you can search or filter your call numbers by regular expression, use the expression /-$/.