LC Call Numbers - Start Number

What is this?

One pattern that can show up in LC call numbers in catalogs is starting with a number instead of a capital letter like this:

  • 309.147 H383
  • 304255402150V
  • 2022-011287

Why is this trouble?

A call number starting with a number might actually be a Dewey number, or a call number from some other classification. In the holdings record, the first indicator of 852 should be set to indicate the shelving scheme, such as:

  • 0 - Library of Congress classification
  • 1 - Dewey Decimical classification
  • 8 - Other scheme
A call number from a different scheme may indicate that the resource is cataloged in the wrong library location, needs a new call number, or needs to be marked with the correct indicator. In some systems, holdings records with incorrect indicators will have incorrect normalized call numbers (so will not sort correctly in reports).

Exceptions

No 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 "Start Number" analysis.

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