Background:

Before 1971 shelflisters assigned "A" Cutters to periodicals under a particular topic if the schedule for the topic did not explicitly provide for periodicals. This arrangement was controlled only by shelflist guidecards and was not published in the schedules. After 1971 the practice was discontinued. Since then, shelflisters have been required to return to catalogers all periodicals received for shelflisting if the topic has an "A" Cutter arrangement in the shelflist that is not printed in the schedule. A description of "A" Cutters appeared in Cataloging Service, Bulletin 116, Winter 1976. The section of that description requiring catalogers to cancel "A" Cutters existing only in the shelflist if fewer than "several serials" were involved has since been superseded.

Procedures:

1. Establish an "A" Cutter for periodicals under a topic only if that arrangement already exists in the shelflist or if the topic is represented by a single number and other forms have already been provided with "A" Cutters.

When this arrangement exists in the shelflist, continue to use it and establish it in the schedule. Example:

2. Under topics where no previous arrangement for "A" Cutters for periodicals exists in the shelflist, either establish a new class number for periodicals (provided that the criteria in F 210, sec. 3, are met) or class periodicals in the General works number.

3. New developments:

When creating a new development for a major topic, provide for periodicals with the caption Periodicals. Societies. Serials (unless it is characteristic of a specific schedule to use a different form of the caption). Use whole numbers or decimal numbers instead of "A" Cutters. Establish numbers for all forms of material likely to be received.

See also:

Form Captions