WYLD TECHNOTE 002: Abbreviations for call number information

The following list of standardized abbreviations to be used within the subfield "z" of call numbers has been approved by the Online Quality Committee and are consistent with abbreviations listed in Appendix B of Anglo-American Cataloging Rules, 2nd edition. 2002 Revision. These abbreviations are also consistent with those generated automatically when using the Serials check-in function of Workflows.

Using standardized abbreviations enables the system to process requests from WYLDCAT more efficiently as it will consistently list volumes and parts in the same format. Standardizing the use of abbreviations also improves the display, both in WYLDCAT and in Workflows, of multi-part material.

It is particularly important when using any abbreviations to be consistent in entry so that the parts of multi-part materials display in the desired consecutive order. Not only can the abbreviation itself affect display order, punctuation and spacing can as well. If a library generally designates its volumes by using just the letter V with no period, followed by the volume number (V2), but links a few volumes as V. (V. 4), those volumes with that designation will not fall into numeric order with the rest of the numbers. This is also true if one of the volumes is done as V.5 (no space after the period), or if a volume is designated as VOL. instead of V. This applies also to all other abbreviations, not just the one for volumes. All numerical abbreviations listed are with a period followed by a space, then the number.

V.	(that is: a capital letter V followed by a period followed by a single blank space, then the volume number) use for volume or volumes DO NOT use VOL.
SUPPL.	use for supplement or supplements
SECT.	use for section or sections
PT.	use for part
PTS.	use for parts Used when the parts share a single barcode.
NO.	use for number or numbers DO NOT use the pound sign # to designate number.
ISS.	use for issue or issues DO NOT use the pound sign # to designate an issue number.
ED.	use for edition or editions
BK.	use for book or books Sometimes volumes are designated with the word "Book" instead of "Volume". In that case use the BK. abbreviation.

Numeric abbreviations are used as modifiers to identify specific versions of a publication as demonstrated above in the edition example. For consistency, the following standard numeric abbreviations should be used in the subfield z of the call number:

 

MONTH/SEASONS

The same level of consistency should also be used when entering the names of months or seasons. The following abbreviations should be used:

JAN	FEB	MAR	APR	MAY	JUN
JUL	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC
SPR	SUM	FALL	WIN

Examples:

 

DATES

When entering dates, the preferred form of entry for the year is to enter all four digits.

Combinations of the above examples may occur. In those cases, the subfield z of the call number should come before the first element that makes that particular item unique to the base call number. This allows for easier identification of the specific material being sought. Again, consistency is very important. The same punctuation and spacing as outlined above applies to these instances as well.

Do not use the combination of both an edition and the year. If the material has a specific edition stated, use the edition to identify that unique item. If only the year is provided, use the year as the unique identifier for that item.