Arrangement of the SuDocs Collection

The following is a brief description of the proper arrangement for the Superintendent of Documents Classification System (SuDocs numbers).  For further practice arranging SuDocs numbers go to Learning SuDocs Call Numbers, a Web-based interactive tutorial designed to teach library users the SuDocs call number arrangement.   The U.S. Government Printing Offices has created a detailed explanation of the SuDocs Classification System that includes some of the history and more complex aspects of the system.

In the Superintendent of Documents classification system (SuDocs) a combination of alpha-numeric characters and punctuation-like symbols describe the source and type of publication identified by a unique call number.  The call number is divided into two parts: the class number appears to the left of the colon (referred to as the stem), and the individual book number appears to the right of the colon.

example: A 13.2:OZ 1  (for “For the Trees: an illustrated history of the Ozark-St. Francis National Forests 1908-1978”, published by the Department of Agriculture, Forest Service)

The alpha character(s) indicate the federal agency.  The numbers that immediately follow refer to the sub-agency responsible for producing the publication.  The number after the period indicates the series of the publication.

A            = Department of Agriculture
13.         = Forest Service
2:           = general publications
OZ 1      = Cutter number (taken from a unique word in title -- “Ozark”)

Principles to remember:

• Each part of the call number is separated by a period, slash, or colon.
• Publications are shelved alphabetically by the first letter(s), then numerically.
• There are no decimal numbers.  Periods (.) are placeholders only.
• Single letters are shelved before multiple letters.  Multiple letters are shelved alphabetically.
• Years are shelved before letters.
• A 13.93: 998
• A 13.93: Sh 2/2
• Letters are shelved before numbers.
• A 13.92: Sh 2/2
• A 13.92: 26-07-3
• “nothing comes before something”. 
• A 13.2: OZ 1
• A 13.2: OZ 1/998
• The stem of Congressional publications includes cutter numbers based on the committee name.  These call numbers are shelved alphabetically and then numerically by cutter.

Samples of Proper Arrangement:

A 1.3: 7
A 13.92: SA 3/2/record
A 13.92: SA 5
A 13.92: SA 5f
A 13.92: SA 5f/amdt 1
A 13.92: SH 2/2
A 13.92: 26-07-3
C 3.207: 3
D 201.1: 998
D 201.1: L 2/3
D 201.1: 16
P 1.2: P3
Pr 36.8: M56/M56
Pr 36.8: M73/12

Revised, M. Mason
August 2007