Skip to main content
OCLC Support

Copy call numbers from WorldCat records to your records

You can customize your profile to automatically copy the call number from the WorldCat record into a specific field with the "Copy Call Number" value.

Once you choose the Copy Call Number value, you will have options to choose additional settings such as specifying which field to copy from (050, 055, 060, 070, 080, 082, 086, 090, 092, and 096) and select additional options related to spacing and separating data into subfields.

For additional information on the types of call numbers being offered, you can refer to the Bibliographic Formats and Standards guide online.

To see other other data values you can map to your records, see Add Fields - Data values. To see how to map data values to your records in Collection Manager institution settings, see MARC Records, Customize Records.

 Note: For the following call numbers: 060, 070, 080, and 082, only the $a portion of the call number is used for reformatting. There is no reformatting with the $b, and so forth.

Call number format options

You have the option to copy the call number exactly as it appears, to multiple $a, to sequential subfields, or to one subfield. See below for examples.

Copy the call number exactly as it appears

The call number will always output to the $a and $b (and $c if applicable).

Example:

Copying a 050(LC) call number into tag 949, both indicators are blank, subfield $a:

050 00 $aPN1298.L34$bL25 1990

Call number in the record from Collection Manager:

949 00 $aPN1298.L34$bL25 1990

Copy the call number to multiple $a

Each subfield of the call number will be output in a separate $a.

Example:

Copying a 050(LC) call number into tag 949, both indicators are blank, subfield $a:

050 00 $aPN1298.L34$bL25 1990

Call number in the record from Collection Manager:

949 00 $aPN1298.L34$aL25 1990

Copy the call number to sequential subfields

Each subfield of the call number will be output into sequential subfields beginning with the initial subfield selected. If $x is selected, the call number will be output beginning with $x, then a $y, etc.

Example:

Copying a 050(LC) call number into tag 949, both indicators are blank, subfield $e:

050 00 $aPN1298.L34$bL25 1990

Call number in the record from Collection Manager:

949 00 $ePN1298.L34$fL25 1990

Copy the call number to one subfield

All subfields in the call number will be output entirely into a single subfield.

Example:

Copying a 050(LC) call number into tag 949, both indicators are blank, subfield $x:

050 00 $aPN1298.L34$bL25 1990

Call number in the record from Collection Manager:

949 00 $xPN1298.L34 L25 1990

Call number spacing options

You have the option to customize the spacing of the call numbers pulled from WorldCat records to be output in your MARC records from Collection Manager. You will not see these options if you chose "Copy the call number exactly as it appears" for your call number format. See below for examples.

Copy with spacing from call number field

The call number will always be output with the exact same spacing as appears in the item.

Example:

Copying a 050(LC) call number into tag 949, both indicators are blank, subfield $a:

050 00 $aPN1298.L34$bL25 1990

Call number in the record from Collection Manager:

949 00 $aPN1298.L34$bL25 1990

Copy with no spaces

The call number will be output with no spaces in the call number.

Example:

Copying an 050(LC) call number into tag 949, both indicators are blank, subfield $a

Call number format: Copy call number into multiple $a’s

Call number space option: Copy with no spaces

Call number in WorldCat record:

050 00 DA395$b.P75 2012

Call number in the record from Collection Manager:

$aDA395$a.P75$a2012

Copy call number with spaces between the alpha and numeric portions of the class number

The call number will be output with a space inserted between the alpha and numeric portion of $a (class number).

Example:

Copying an 050(LC) call number into a 949 tag starting with $b

Call number format: Copy to one subfield

Call number space option: Copy with space between alpha and numeric portions of class number

Call number in WorldCat record: 050 4 PT2664.A816$bA7413 2013

Call number in the record from Collection Manager:

949 $bPT 2664.A816 A7413 2013

Call number in WorldCat record:

050 00 HG181 $b .K35 2013

Call number in the record from Collection Manager:

949 $bHG 181 .K35 2013

Copy with spaces between each element including alpha and numeric

This option inserts a space between all elements of the call number.

Example:

Copying an 050(LC) call number into a 949 tag starting with $b

Call number format: Copy to one subfield

Call number space option: Copy with spaces between each element including alpha and numeric

Call number in WorldCat record:

050 4 PT2664.A816$bA7413 2013

Call number in the record from Collection Manager:

949   $bPT 2664 .A816 A7413 2013

About call numbers

The first values in the call number are always $a. The actual "$a" does not appear at the beginning of the MARC record field but is implied. All call numbers listed above and being offered for the "Copy Call Number" option begin with a $a.

Guidelines for call number selection when there are multiples of the same call number in the record

For the 050, 055, 060, and 082, the selection is based on indicator values. For the 070, 080, 086, 090, 092, 096, the selection is based on the order of the call numbers in the record.

 Note: The order of call number selection for cataloging partner collection labels uses the below list rather than the Copy Call Number setting in the individual collection's MARC Records section.

050 (Library of Congress Call Number) – choose by second/2nd indicator in the following order: 0, 4, if no 4 is present we choose any other indicator present.

055 (Classification Numbers Assigned in Canada) –choose by second/2nd indicator in the following order: 0, 1, 6, 7, 3, 4, 8, 9, 2, 5

060 (National Library of Medicine Call Number) – choose by second/2nd indicator in the following order: 0, 4, if no 4 is present we choose any other indicator present.

070 (National Agricultural Library Call Number) – choose the first occurrence in the record.

080 (Universal Decimal Classification Number) – choose the first occurrence in the record.

082 (Dewey Decimal Classification Number) – choose by second/ 2nd indicator in the following order: 0, 4, if no 4 is present we choose any other indicator present.

086 (Government Document Classification Number) – choose the last occurrence in the record.

090 (Locally Assigned LC-type Call Number) – choose the first occurrence in the record.

092 (Locally Assigned Dewey Call Number) – choose the first occurrence in the record.

096 (Locally Assigned NLM-type Call Number) – choose the first occurrence in the record.