NYCSLS Recommended Call Number Specifications – Updated May, 2014
FIC with first 3 letters of author’s surname in all caps.
Dewey number with first 3 letters of author’s surname. Note: Truncate at the first prime.
BIO with first 3 letters of biographee’s surname in all caps.
Option: Schools may opt to have biographies assigned to the Dewey call number that represents the subject area of the biographee. If a school chooses to exercise this option, they are free to do so.
920 with 3 letters of author’s surname in all caps.
E with first 3 letters of author’s surname in all caps.
No special Dewey options
SC with first 3 letters of author’s surname in all caps.
REF above the assigned Dewey number with first 3 letters of author’s surname in all caps.
PRO above the Dewey number of professional books and the first 3 letters of author’s surname in all caps.
PIC with first 3 letters of author’s surname in all caps
PAR with first 3 letters of author’s surname in all caps
Please use the Dewey number assigned by the subject with the cataloging specs listed above. You can indicate these separate categories under the circulation type (located under Back Office-Library Policies). In other words, a graphic novel would be listed by the Dewey number assigned by the subject (ex. FIC BAD or 333.4 FRE.) and would not include any prefix like GN. This protocol would also be followed for foreign language books, YA titles and paperbacks. This allows you to still run circulation reports for these categories while allowing us to capture all the Dewey ranges. We could not capture all the 300s if several were listed under the call numbers GN or SPA or YA. Please note you can still shelve these books in separate sections to facilitate easier student access.
CD for Compact Discs PLAY for Playaways
DVD for Digital Video Discs
BB with first 3 letters of author’s surname in all caps
No specific call numbers; this is noted in the catalog record.
Kits are a collection of specific items that make up a whole (Jackdaws, books with CD-Roms, books with cassette tapes, Read-a-longs, etc). Please use KIT and the Dewey assigned by the subject with the first 3 letters of the author’s last name.
Use REALIA and the Dewey number assigned by the subject with the first 3 letters of the author’s last name. Realia includes games, toys, etc.