LC Call Numbers - Space Dot Number

What is this?

One pattern that can show up in LC call numbers in catalogs is an space followed by a dot followed by a number, like this:

  • PN1997 .2 .A33 2002
  • ND2135 .053
  • LA231 .119
  • PN2019 .1889 .P3
  • E513.5 .13th

Why is this trouble?

A call number with a space before the decimal part of the class number might cause it to be labeled and/or shelved inconsistently: 

PN       PN
1997.2   1997
.A33     .2
2002     .A33
         2002

A call number matching this pattern may be an indicator of a person or computer mis-reading a letter as a number; for example ND2135 .053 could be ND2135 .O53, or TA165 .043 2000 could be TA165 .D43 2000. These may look the similar on call number labels but will be be treated differently in a sorted list in the catalog.

Other mis-readings of a letters as numbers may be significantly different; for example LA231 .119 could be LA213 .H9. This call number would be far from its appropriate position on a sorted list and on the shelf.

Call numbers like PN2019 .1889 .P3 and E513.5 .13th should not have a dot before the number (1889 or 13th) which may or may not cause issues with shelving or shelflisting.

Exceptions

I don't know of any well-formed call numbers that match this pattern.

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 "Space Dot Number" analysis.

If you can search or filter your call numbers by regular expression, use the expression / \.[0-9]/.