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The Children’s and Young Adults’ Cataloging Program (CYAC) and the Policy and Standards Division (PSD) of the Library of Congress are considering a proposal to begin using two Cutters to subarrange juvenile literary works, following the existing policy for adult literary works. Before making a final decision, CYAC and PSD, in cooperation with the Cataloging of Children’s Materials Committee of the American Library Association, are surveying libraries with children’s literature collections to determine the impact of the proposed policy change.

The brief survey is intended to assess the number and types of libraries that use LCC’s P-PZ5-90 range to classify their juvenile literature collections, and, more significantly, the impact that the policy change might have on their staff and users. We appreciate your interest and willingness to assist us in making this decision, and ask that only one survey be filled out per library.

The survey is available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PZ_subarrangement. Interested parties are requested to respond by March 15, 2014.

The following is background on the current policy and a description of the proposed change.

Background and Proposal

When originally published in 1915, Library of Congress Classification (LCC) subclass PZ included fiction in English for all ages. In 1980, fiction in English for adult readers was moved from the PZ1-4 range to subclasses PR and PS. Classification numbers PZ5-10.5 continue to be used for juvenile fiction in English, and PZ11-90 for juvenile fiction in other languages.

Works classified in subclass PZ have always been subarranged by a Cutter number for the author’s name, followed by a two- or three-letter “work mark” representing the first significant word of the title. More recently, the date of publication has been added to complete the call number. Examples:

On the other hand, literature for adults is generally subarranged by two Cutters – the first represents the author and the second, the title of the resource. Examples:

The policy change under consideration would result in call numbers for juvenile works that look very similar to those for adult works.

CYAC and PSD have already tentatively agreed to approve new classification numbers for children’s literary works. PZ7 (American and English general belles letters, 1870- ) in particular is very crowded and a new number – probably PZ7.1 -- will be opened. The new Cuttering system would be implemented in new classification numbers only, and not in existing numbers. The following example illustrates how the call numbers for the works by Rowley and Rowling, above, would have been constructed if they were classified in PZ7.1 and given two Cutter numbers instead of a single Cutter number and a work mark.

Timeline and Implementation

Responses to the survey are due by March 15, 2014. CYAC and PSD will decide in mid-2014 whether to revise the policy. If approved, the new policy would be implemented in late 2014 or early 2015.