In general, Africana cataloging follows the policies and procedures of other serials cataloging. However, Africana cataloging procedures vary in the following areas:
Statistical Releases from South Africa
Africana cataloging uses the normal Dewey numbers unless the number falls into one of the following ranges:
300-309 -- Social sciences
320-329 -- Political science
330-339 -- Economics
350-359 -- Public administration and military science
With numbers in these areas, when the work being cataloged is about a single African country other than South Africa, classify in the 960s. For example, a work with the subject heading Zaire--Politics and government--1960-, which would ordinarily have a class number of 320.96751, should be classed in 967.5103.
Note that this does not apply to works about more than a single country or to South Africa. In the case of South Africa, use of 968 or 968.06, etc. should be limited to works about the history of South Africa. Works about South African race relations should be classed in 305.8_; works about Apartheid should be classed in 320.56_. Exception: these restrictions do not apply to subdivisions of South Africa (e.g., 963.4 for Natal), which should be treated in the same manner as single countries (uncommon for serials).
A bibliography of a single African country that falls into 016.3_ (the 300s listed above) should be classed in 016.96_ for the country.
Assign Cutter numbers using normal procedures (see SCP 30: Cutters and Work Marks for Serials).
When encountering a title change, continue to use the previously assigned call number, even if it conflicts with the procedures above, unless a new numbering system or other change would require a new classification number.
Unless otherwise directed by the bibliographer, use the following location codes:
In
Dewey class:For
Regular size
use:For
Large size
use:000-019 nafr nafr,lg 020-299 nafr,lls nafr,llsl 300-399 nafr nafr,lg 400-699 nafr,lls nafr,llsl 700-967 nafr nafr,lg 968-999 nafr nafr,llsl Note: If a serial going into nafr,lls or nafr,llsl is also a periodical, add the note "Current issues in AFRICANA" in 852 subfield $z.
Note: Some older runs of select titles that would normally be in nafr or nafr,lg may also be located in nafr,lls or nafr,llsl at the discretion of the Africana bibliographers.
Use the location nafr,fol for all folio size serials regardless of Dewey class number.
Use the location nmic,afr for all microform serials (physical location is Main Periodical/Newspaper Reading Room, but "collection" is Africana).
Use the location nnew,afr for all newspapers (physical location is Main Periodical/Newspaper Reading Room, but "collection" is Africana).
When the Africana collection was created, it was decided to separate and distinguish government documents of African countries, provinces and states on the shelf. Works must be published or issued by the government to receive this special classification treatment. The method adopted was to add an "A" to the classification number for the country, province or state without period subdivision.
As an example, all government documents of Nigeria are classed 966.9A, regardless of period covered; all government documents of Rivers State, Nigeria are classed in 966.942A, etc. This procedure is only applied to numbers in the 960's. U.S. or international government documents cataloged for Africana are not affected.
The definition of what constitutes an African government document has never been clear. In general, if the government body is the main entry of the work being cataloged, and the government published the work, the special rules for classification apply. If the work has a title main entry and a corporate added entry for a government, and is published by the government body, these special rules for classification also apply (i.e., base the Cutter on the added entry).
If the work has a personal name main entry (rare for serials), it is not considered to be a government document for the purposes of classification.
In the cases of headings new to the catalog, or questions about whether or not the heading is a government body, check the catalog and shelf list to see what has been done with similar works in the past. If no precedent is readily apparent, consult with Head of Serials Cataloging, an Africana monographic cataloger, or an Africana bibliographer.
In the case of documents for countries that have changed their names and class numbers, use the new class number unless your work is a "true" variant edition.
For African government documents, check the catalog first. If a Cutter has already been established, continue to use it.
A Cutter number for an Africana government work is based on the first significant and distinguishing word of the government sub-body. Thus, the class and Cutter for South Africa. Dept. of Information would be 968A I435. Never base a Cutter on the word Dept., Ministry, etc.
After the Cutter, add a work letter based on the title.
Be aware that African government bodies frequently change their names, but continue to have the same Cutter. For example, South Africa. Office of Census and Statistics (968A C396) has changed its name to South Africa. Bureau of Statistics, and then to South Africa. Office of Statistics. All of these bodies have the same Cutter of C396, rather than changing to S797.
Documents entered under the government without subdivision have the Cutter A111 (e.g., works by the corporate author Nigeria are classed in 966.9A A111).
If needed, consult the MARC Dept. procedures for Dewey Number Shifting and Africana Cataloging.
In all cases, please do not hesitate to ask to ask for another opinion.
This section has been moved to SCP 103: Statistical Releases from South Africa.
Sources of information:
Information on assigning Dewey numbers, Cutter numbers, and Africana government documents adapted from A. Stamm memo dated Feb. 7, 1986.
DOCUMENT HISTORY:
Created Dec. 12, 2000 (TLH; edited by KMR)
Last revised June 15, 2006 (KMR)