LC Call Numbers - Space Three Letters

What is this?

One pattern that can show up in LC call numbers in catalogs is a space followed by three letters at the end of a call number, like this:

  • H573.3 Our
  • J584.9 Gol
  • H942.06 McL

Why is this trouble?

A call number matching this pattern may be an indicator of a Dewey call number with some other letter in front of it. If this is the case, the book will not be shelved with other books on its subject; it would not be included with reports by classification on its subject, and may be harder for find by patrons browsing in that area.

A call number matching this pattern may create confusion for shelving and searching the shelf as it is unclear how it compares to call numbers with regular cutters.

Exceptions

There may be good call numbers matching this pattern, such as in Roman Numerals, enumeration, or distinguishing words following the main call number:

  • QP517.B5 I550 1975 XI, XII, XVI
  • G1201.E4 G3 1962 Map
  • PK1975 .B38 Key
  • PQ7614 .A4 2d ser

Books classified in the PZ schedule may also have this pattern:

  • PZ1.A227 Fav

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 Three Letters" analysis.

If you can search or filter your call numbers by regular expression, use the expression / [A-Za-z][A-Za-z][A-Za-z]$/.