The Library of Congress Classification (LCC) system does not inherently arrange fiction series in the chronological order intended by the author. As an academic library using LCC, we frequently found fiction series shelved alphabetically by title rather than by story sequence. As a result, later books often appeared before earlier volumes, creating confusion for both students and library staff.
This session presents a practical solution developed and implemented in our library: creating a second cutter number that incorporates the series title and the book's chronological position within the series. Attendees will learn how we use the Cataloging Calculator by Kyle Banerjee and online resources to identify series titles, determine reading order, and create consistent cutter numbers that improve patron browsing while maintaining compatibility with the LC classification system.
The presentation will include examples of shelving challenges, a step-by-step demonstration of the cataloging process, before-and-after comparisons, and a hands-on activity in which participants practice creating a second cutter number for a fiction series.
At the end of the session, participants will be able to:
Explain how traditional LCC practices can result in fiction series being shelved out of story order. Identify challenges that out-of-sequence shelving creates for patrons and staff. Create a second cutter number that reflects series title and chronological order. Apply tools and resources to determine a series' correct reading sequence.
This session supports New Trails in Library Service by blazing a new path in technical services and practicing stewardship through a sustainable workflow that improves discoverability, enhances the user experience, and reduces staff time spent correcting shelving inconsistencies.
