Reclassification
How one college moved from
Dewey to LC call numbers
cost-effectively
Carol Love
Kuyper College
Zondervan Library
Grand Rapids, MI
Why did Kuyper College decide
to reclassify?
• Need for specificity in classification
• Standard in academic libraries is LC
classification
• Plans for migration and joining a
consortium that uses LC classification
Early decisions
• Reclassification as first step in
migration process
• Weed the collection before
reclassification
• Exclude special collections and Ebooks
Processing specifications
• Use LC classification in record first.
• Search LC database for classification
second.
• Place new call number and new
barcode number in item field.
Label printing specifications
• Spine label sets for reclassified items
only
• Labels printed in LC call number
order
• Barcodes for all items to make number
of digits consistent
Tips from the Librarian
• Better to load reclassified records into
new system if migrating
• Map out the library for shifting books
and applying labels
• Work with another library who has
already done this
Rely on
MARCIVE for
reclassification
assistance!
For more detailed information, contact
[email protected] or 1-800-531-7678.