LC Call Numbers - Parentheses

What is this?

Most LC call numbers should not have parentheses characters, but sometimes they do.

Why is this trouble?

A call number with parentheses may be an indicator that some additional information may have been included with the call number:

  • L961.I5 T5 (Orien Indo)
  • PS3558.A42 L37 2022 (LC)
  • JX760.L4 L4 (vol)
  • QR121 .O73 1943 (Text)

A call number with parentheses may have them around its punctuation date, which is non-standard:

  • KF240.L43 v.101 (2024)

Exceptions

Some call numbers may include a year in parentheses:

  • M452 .S145 (1777) no.2 2007

Some series include designations or additional numbering in parentheses:

  • AS32 .A5 no.85(VT) 1907
  • JK1369 90th(1) .P65

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 "Paren" analysis.

If you can search or filter your call numbers by regular expression, use the expression /[()]/.