Mavis Heffernan, SCIS Cataloguer, explores special book numbers.
Book numbers are the set of three letters found in the SCIS call number. SCIS records all contain call numbers:
- Fiction items are given the collection code F and a Book number
- Non-fiction resources are given a classification number using Dewey Decimal Classification and a Book number
Book numbers usually comprise the first three letters of the first filing word of the main entry, i.e. author or title (where there is no author or only an editor).
However, special book numbers are employed for certain classes of material. Some special book numbers serve as a shelving device for biographies or to place works such as commentaries and adaptations with the original text. Other special book numbers are a result of alphabetical sub-arrangement within Dewey classes.
Special book numbers are used in the following cases:
Works about the subject
- Individual biography, Family biography, Musical group biography
SPR (Bruce Springsteen by Marty Monroe)
BRO (Everyman’s companion to the Brontes by Barbara Lloyd)
- Commentaries and critical works
BEA (The complete guide to the music of The Beatles, by John Robertson)
BRO (Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights, by Frances McCarthy)
- Abridgements and adaptations of literary works, including film adaptations
AND (The ugly duckling [by Hans Andersen] retold by Brenda Parkes
MIT (Gone with the wind [videorecording of the motion picture based on the book by Margaret Mitchell])
Dewey instructions for sub-arrangement
Special Book numbers are used in all ADDC15 and DDC23 classes where the Dewey Editors give the instruction to sub-arrange alphabetically. For example specific named automobiles, specific television programs, specific computers, computer programming languages and computer programs. Also, special book numbers are provided in the schedules for DDC23 numbers for William Shakespeare:
629.2222 MG (Specific named automobiles, e.g. MG) DDC23
791.4572 STA (Specific television program, e.g. Star Trek) DDC23
004.165 MAC (Specific named computer, e.g. Macintosh) ADDC15 and DDC23
H (Lamb’s tales from Shakespeare) DDC23
P3 (The merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare) DDC23
Extraordinary special book number – ABL
It is SCIS policy to use this special book number for works where the book number would, if title main entry and covering topics on Australian Aboriginal peoples, be ABO:
305.89915 ABL (Aboriginal studies)
635.089915 ABL (Aboriginal bush gardens: teacher and student information and examples)
We hope this offers an insight into how the SCIS team creates high quality, consistent catalogue records for school libraries. Happy cataloguing!
