Practical Guide to Library of Congress Classification - by Karen Snow (Paperback)

About the Book

A Practical Guide to Library of Congress Classification is a hands-on introduction to LC Classification. It examines each part of the LCC call number, how it's assembled, and guides the reader through each step of finding and constructing LCC class numbers in Classification We...

Book Synopsis

A Practical Guide to Library of Congress Classification is a hands-on introduction to LC Classification. It examines each part of the LCC call number, how it's assembled, and guides the reader through each step of finding and constructing LCC class numbers in Classification Web. Exercises give readers immediate practice with what they just learned.

Review Quotes

A clear, straightforward introduction to the Library of Congress Classification - essential for students and practitioners who want to learn the intricacies of assigning Library of Congress Classification numbers.

A simple and clear guide to our beloved LCC--straightforward and easy to understand number-building strategies for both professional librarians and novice LCC-users. Snow provides practical lessons on navigating and using Classification Web, as well as common-sense tips for 'tweaking' cutter numbers to fit a library's unique collection. The end of chapter exercises are especially useful because of the detailed explanations given for many of the answers.

First-time author Snow has written an immensely helpful title on constructing Library of Congress (LC) call numbers for novice catalogers or anyone seeking a better understanding of the LC classification (LCC) system. This slim volume is packed with essential information and illustrated with numerous examples. Snow first explores the components of LCC, then guides readers through assigning class numbers and constructing Cutter numbers using LC classification schedules and tables. Although Snow provides screenshots from the Classification Web and offers advice on navigating that resource, her instructions are easily adaptable to use with the PDF schedules available on the library's website. The book also contains links to the Classification and Shelflisting Manual for additional material on specific topics and a final chapter of recommended resources for further learning. Most valuable of all, however, is Snow's straight-forward, comprehensible instruction style. Each new concept builds on the principles of previous chapters and reiterates important points.

Verdict: Highly recommended for library and information science students and professional catalogers in need of a refresher.

The coverage represented by the book is thorough and the content is outstanding. . . . I would think this book would be of particular interest in small academic libraries with limited technical services staff. It will also be immensely interesting to library school students whose instructors are unable to take the time that Snow takes to describe the intricacies of using Class Web to devise LCC numbers.

About the Author

Karen Snow is an Associate Professor in the School of Information Studies at Dominican University in River Forest, IL. She teaches face-to-face and online in the areas of cataloging, classification, and metadata. She completed her Ph.D. in Information Science at the University of North Texas in 2011 and while doing so worked as a cataloger in the Rare Book Room, University Archives, and the Technical Services departments.