Back to Library of Congress Dewey Practices

Libraries using cataloging data provided by the Library of Congress will notice that sometimes there is non-numeric notation in the DDC (082 MARC) field.  The following examples explain the practices of the Dewey Program with respect to alternate DDC notation.

Biography

For biography and works primarily biographical, the Dewey Program assigns a number and the letter [B]

780.92   The number for the work if added to the classified collection

[B]         The letter for the work if added to a biography collection

Example in a MARC record: 082 00   ‡a 780.92 ‡a B ‡2 23

The [B] is bracketed when Cataloging in Publication Program data are printed in the book.

Juvenile works

Easy

The Children’s and Young Adults’ Cataloging Program assigns [E] in the MARC 082 field for easy fiction intended for children through grade 3 or age 8.  With the exception of alphabet and counting books, [E] is not used on nonfiction material.  

Example in a MARC record:  082 00   ‡a E

[E] may be assigned by the Children’s and Young Adults’ Cataloging Program to traditional folklore and fairy tales and picture song books, and in addition the Dewey Program will assign standard Dewey numbers.

Fairy tale example in a MARC record:  082 00   ‡a 398.2 ‡a E ‡2 23

Juvenile fiction

The Children’s and Young Adults’ Cataloging Program assigns [Fic] in the MARC 082 field for fiction for children beyond grade 3 or age 8 as well as young adults through high school.  

Example in a MARC record:  082 00   ‡a Fic

[E] and [Fic] are bracketed when  Cataloging in Publication Program data are printed in the book.

Traditional folklore and fairy tales and juvenile nonfiction materials are assigned standard Dewey numbers with segmentation as needed.