SUPERINTENDENT OF DOCUMENTS CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM
The SuDoc classification system was designed to group together publications by the government author or issuing agency. Each government department is assigned its own alphabetical identifier according to its name. Example: A=Agriculture Dept.; C=Commerce Dept., etc.
In the SuDoc (Superintendent of Documents) classification system, the class (call) number is divided into two parts. The class number appears before the colon (:), and the individual book number appears after the colon.
Periods, back slashes, and colons separate each section of the typical call number. Documents are shelved alphabetically by the first letter or letters, and then numerically, section by section.
For example, all call numbers beginning with A 1. are shelved before call numbers beginning with A 2.
A
1.1:
A
1.2:
A 1.112:
A 2.1:
A 2.2:
A 2.109:
All numbers are shelved as whole numbers, not as decimals. (see example above).
Single letters are shelved before multiple letters (but, multiple letters are shelved alphabetically then, regardless of the number of letters.) Example:
L 2.3:
LC 1.1:
LR 1.1:
N 1.2:
NAS 1.2:
NS 1.2:
The numbers for Congressional commissions or committee publications (Y 3. or Y 4.) are slightly different in their format. The number after the Y 3. or Y 4., is a cutter number, composed of letters and numbers. This number is based on a key work in the name of the commission or committee. Within the Y section, these numbers will be shelved alphabetically and then numerically by the cutter number.
The cutter number is often followed by a slash and then a number or numbers. The additional numbers with no dash come before the same number with a dash.
Remember these simple rules for locating and/or shelving these publications. Alphabetical, then numerical before the colon. Numbers before letters after the colon. Slashes before dashes, and nothing always comes before something.
If you do not know where to locate and/or shelve the publication ask before trying to reshelve the publication. This way the publication is not lost by being misshelved.
For more information on the Superintendent of Documents Classification System, you can check their website at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/pubs/classman/cl_int.html.
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Last Modified: 9/01
