How to add Library Call numbers for books?

Question

How to add Library Call numbers for books?

Answer 1

On most recently-published books, there is a basic library catalog record on the reverse side of the title page.  It has the heading, "Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data."  This will almost always have a LC call number and usually a Dewey number.  For instance ... opening the top book on my desk ... the book "Programming Perl, 3d ed." has in the bottom left corner of the record, above the ISBN:

QA76.73.P22 W35 2000

005.13'3--dc21

The "QA" number is the assigned Library of Congress Classification number.  

The "005" is the Dewey Decimal number.  The tick mark between the 3's indicates a place where you can stop: DDC has an "abridged" version that gives shorter numbers, and the tick mark indicates where the abridged number ends.  The code "dc21" indicates the edition of DDC the number comes from: in this case it's the 21st edition.  DDC is currently in its 22nd edition, but I wouldn't worry about mixing editions.

If a book doesn't have a CIP record, you can usually find a call number by searching a library catalog.  To find a library that owns it, you can use WorldCat, which will tell you owning libraries.

If you're really stuck, you can call the cataloger at your local library.  Generally the cataloger won't mind, though of course you should be careful about how often you bother him/her.  If you're working on a large project you can wait until you have several questions, then call.

Finally, of course, you can get the books.  You might call a local library to ask about the public availability of LC schedules or Dewey schedules, but you really shouldn't ask your librarians for more than the most basic training in these tools.  If you're trying to classify a small library for a church or organization it might be worth investing in the Abridged edition of DDC (currently in its 14th ed.), which you can order from its publisher -- or you can find used copies in online bookstores.