Library Technical Services

Classification on Receipt (COR) (LTS Procedure #53)

Scope (Policy): This procedure applies to printed monographic materials that, upon receipt, are ineligible for fast or copy cataloging and that are not immediately selected for original cataloging. Such items are handled in the manner outlined below, assigned full call numbers, and sent to the stacks to await overlay by Batchmatch. This process is called classification-on-receipt, or COR. This procedure does not apply to non-book formats (serials, microforms, videos, scores, maps, or electronic resources). There are special guidelines for some kinds of printed materials. The first volume or volumes received in a multi-vol set should be searched for full copy. If copy is not found, the volume (regardless of whether or not it is vol.1) is still eligible for class-on-receipt. Each time a new vol. is added to a mutli-vol. record, the item should be searched for fuller copy, and if not found, added to the encoding level 3 record. Books with accompanying materials should be excluded from class-on-receipt and instead handled by original or copy catalogers as appropriate. Because of their unique workflow, CJK materials are also excluded from classification-on-receipt. Complete multi-vols are eligible for classification-on-receipt. 

Remember that COR records are, like input or vendor records, designed to be temporary. Do not fuss over them extensively. The primary consideration is that they be sufficiently accurate for Marcadia processing and that they correctly represent the item until a better record becomes available. The need for processing materials using classification-on-receipt varies from collection to collection. For those collections or areas that are likely to have copy available over 24 months, classification-on-receipt can be applied more liberally; for those collections where the proportion of unique items is greater, fewer items will be given COR. Your supervisor can provide additional guidance on the use of COR.

Contacts: David Banush, Lois Peret Purcell

Unit: Cataloging

Date last updated: 11/30/07

Date of next review: December 2008

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Policy
Abbreviated level records
     Inputting
     Fixed fields
Variable fields
Guidelines for LC Call Numbers
Guidelines for Uncontrolled Subject Terms (653s)
LTS Statistics Code

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Abbreviated Level Records

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Inputting

  Fixed Field Values

MARC 21 Definition	Voyager label	LTS Abbreviated Level Requirement
Encoding Level	Encoding level	Enter value "3"
Descriptive cataloging form	Cataloging form	Should be value "a" (AACR2)
Type of Date Code	Publication status	Mandatory
Date 1, Date 2	Date 1, Date 2	Mandatory (Date 2 mandatory if applicable)
Place of publication	Place of publication	Mandatory
Language	Language	Mandatory
Cataloging source	Cataloging source	Should be value "d" (other) or Blank when using preliminary LC record

Leave the default code in all other fixed field positions.

Variable Fields

Use the following table to determine what data elements should appear in the record. If other fields appear in the Voyager in-process record, use judgment to determine whether to revise or delete such fields. The guiding principles are these:

• Focus on the data elements spelled out in this procedure as mandatory or mandatory if applicable.
• Accept what is present to the extent possible, making sure that the input record matches the piece in hand.
• Do not delete or change information unless it is clearly inaccurate or egregiously misleading.
• Limit changes.
• Finally, do not agonize over existing data elements in a record. Make a quick decision.

Name and series headings that are included in the input record should be examined for accuracy, but not added if absent from the input record.

MARC 21 Definition	Tag	LTS Abbreviated Level Requirement
Library of Congress Control No.	010	Mandatory if available
ISBN	020	Mandatory if available
System Control Number	035	Retain
Cataloging Source	040	Subfields |a and |c mandatory; |d if applicable
LC Call No.	050	Mandatory; see guidelines in this procedure
Title area	245	Subfield |a is mandatory; |b is optional; |c if applicable
Edition area	250	Mandatory if applicable
Imprint	260	Mandatory if applicable; |a, |b and |c should be present
Physical description	300	Subfields |a and |c are mandatory; don't bother with other descriptive information
Uncontrolled Subject Terms	653	Mandatory if applicable; see guidelines in this procedure

Guidelines for assigning LC Call Numbers

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Guidelines for Uncontrolled Subject Terms (653s)

Add English words, translated generally from the title, to items written in foreign languages and to English-language books with titles that do not reflect their subjects. For example, the English title The high road and the low road, which is about bookmobiles, does not reflect the subject of the work, so you would assign a 653 field.

However, do not apply these instructions to works of the imagination (novels, stories, poetry, plays).

General rule: If item meets criteria for assignment of 653 field as outlined above, assign only one 653 field. Multiple terms may be assigned in some instances if appropriate. If you use a subject phrase, keep it brief.

Format of 653 fields:

When selecting subject words, follow these guidelines:

1. Use the title of the work, translated into English, as the primary source for words or phrases.

   Examples:

   245 10 Cinco lecciones sobre el humanismo

   (Five readings on humanism)

   653 $a Humanism

   245 13 La caravana del hambre

   (The caravan of hunger)

   653 $a Hunger

   245 12 I templari nei giudicati sardi

   (The Templars in the Sardinian jurisdiction)

   653 $a Templars $a Sardinia

   245 10 Medicina, machine e uomini

   (Medicine, machines and men)

   653 $a Medicine $a Machines $a Man

   245 10 Enchiridion della famiglia : $b documenti magisteriali e pastorali su famiglia e vita

   (Handbook of the family: magistrate and pastoral documents on family and life)

   653 $a Family $a Life $a Pastoral documents

   245 13 Lo scheletro e il professore

   (The skeleton and the professor)

   653 $a Death in European cultural tradition

2. If the title field does not contain words about the subject of the work, quickly examine the covers, tables of contents, and preface to select appropriate words.
3. If it is not possible to determine useful words quickly, omit the 653. Do not analyze the book in depth nor agonize over selection of terms.
4. Do not duplicate a term that appears in another keyword-searchable field of the record. To learn what is indexed in the Voyager keyword index, see "Voyager Keyword Search Configurations" in the Voyager Manual.
   
5. Use natural word order, and concentrate on words that are rich in meaning (e.g., use "Breach of promise" not "Study of the impact of breach of promise").
6. Use foreign words that have no English equivalent, if they would provide useful keyword access (e.g., if the work is about glasnost, assign 653 Glasnost).
7. If the work is about a person, place or corporate body, give the name in direct order in the 653 field. For corporate names, make a quick judgment whether an English translation would provide useful keyword access (if not, omit it).

8. Examples:

   245 10 My name is Hilda

   653 $a Hilda Kramer

   245 13 La Habana, ciudad antigua

   653 $a Havana

   245 10 Historia del Sindicato de Culinarias

   653 $a Culinary Syndicate

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LTS Statistics Code for Classification on Receipt