Quiz Answers

The correct shelving order:

1. 813
   L84c
   1902

2. 813
   L84cUh
   1930

3. 813
   L84ca

4. 813
   L84ca
   1903

5. 813
   L84ca:SP

6. 813
   L84Yj
   v.11-18 incompl.

Explanations

• The "8" tells you it is literature.
• The "1" tells you it is American.
• And the "3" tells you that this piece is a novel.
• "L84" refers to the last name "London", in this case Jack London.

The Work Mark

London, Jack
Children of the Frost
New York : 1902

In cataloging, after the Cutter number you generally will find a "work mark" or title indicator. This is used to keep the authors various works separate. Generally the first letter of the first important word in the title is used. If we get another book from the same author whose title begins with the same letter, they add the second letter of the first word in the title for differentiation. So here we find that the "c" refers to the book "Children of the Frost" and the "ca" refers to the book "Call of the Wild". Alphabetically "Call of the Wild" should come first but that's the breaks of cataloging first book first.

Translations

London, Jack
Dity Morozu
Kharkiv : 1930

Now lets examine that pesky "cUh". Back before the advent of LSC (the Library's former computer system), cataloging used a lower case letter to indicate title and then an upper case letter to indicate language of translation. And sometimes another lower case letter for the last name of the translator. But LCS capitalized all letters so you couldn't tell by looking at the screen whether or not an item was a translation. Enter the colon. Using a colon after the title designation became the means of identifying a translation.

With DRA allowing lower case letters, it may be possible for patrons to once again readily identify those translations that are without the benefit of the mighty colon.

Put it all Together...

So the answer to this group goes as follows:

1. Children of the Frost - 1902 edition
2. Children of the Frost - Ukranian translation
3. Call of the Wild - (plain)
4. Call of the Wild - 1903 edition, and
5. Call of the Wild - Spanish translation.

Note: all editions of the original language will precede any translations.

Special Characters

Jack London Newsletter
Carbondale, IL : (1978-85)

The last card in this grouping is a little more fun. With literature certain capital letters have specific meanings. The capital "Y" is used to indicate a criticism. When putting in order, a lower case "y" would come before an upper case "Y".

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(Remaining Titles)

• 813
  L84ca

  London, Jack
  Call of the Wild
  New York : 1903

• 813
  L84ca
  1903

  London, Jack
  Call of the Wild
  London : 1903

• 813
  L84ca:SP

  London, Jack
  la Llamada de la Selva
  Mexico : 1956