NLM Ceases Cutters in LocatorPlus

According the December 22, 2009  NLM Technical Bulletin, “NLM will cease providing cutter numbers in LocatorPlus for most of the classification numbers assigned to print monographs that the library catalogs.”  The reason for this change is to increase efficiencies in NLM’s cataloging practices.  Apparently time spent cuttering was considered an inefficient activity.

The bulletin mentions that NLM has been shelving the print by accession number rather than call number for 15 years, but they provided full call numbers on their records as a convenience to other libraries using NLM records.  Because cutter numbers are unique to a library’s particular collection and librarians often adjust the numbers to fit in with their own library’s shelf range, NLM decided to stop adding them to the record and cataloging process.  Please note, “NLM is still committed to providing a classification number the reflects the subject of a book, in recognition that this information ca be used widely by others.”

 The changes will take effect on June 21, 2010.  So you have time to add a new cutter table to your 2010 holidays  wish list.

3 thoughts on “NLM Ceases Cutters in LocatorPlus”

  1. Good Post. I searched the entire net for something like “NLM Ceases Cutters in LocatorPlus Krafty Librarian”. Thank you very much, it had helped.

  2. dear sir

    i am working as amedical librarian in medicalcollege in india. pls.,explian
    the Cutter Cutter-Sanborn Three Three-Figure Author Table in nlm classification
    thanking you
    with regerds
    s.vengadessaperoumal

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