Re: [Refdb-users] call numbers

[rob c. <ro...@st...>]

> I understand your point, but OTOH, standardization means inflexibility. 
>   What if your library uses a classification scheme different than that 
> of call numbers?

just got word from a couple of catalogers, and the answer is...

....it depends.

newer books are more likely to have been cataloged by the library of
congress, and you have a pretty good chance that call numbers will be
consistent across libraries...

but if that call number conflicts with an existing one, a check digit
will be used...

retro-cataloging is an entirely different story, and is usually done
locally, so the call numbers can't be counted on at all....

essentially, its not a good idea to assume that call numbers at one
institution will be the same at others.