Cutter numbers
How to Create a Cutter Number with LibCatalogTools
Start with an established filing entry and a class number that has already been reviewed. The generator shortens lookup and formatting work; it does not identify the correct author entry or classify a book from its title.
Prepare the input
Use the form of the name selected for your cataloging workflow. Check compound surnames, prefixes, and transliteration against your authority practice before typing. Keep the surname and given name in their separate fields. A corporate author or title entry may need a different procedure from this personal-name form.
For this walkthrough, use the fictional title Cataloging practice workbook, surname Besorio, given name Darwin, and year 2026. The name is used to demonstrate the software; no publication by that title is being asserted.
Generate and inspect the candidate
- Open the Author & Call Number Generator and choose DDC.
- Enter Besorio as the last name and Darwin as the first name.
- Select the three-digit Cutter format and enter the example title.
- Generate the result and read both the author number and Matching Entry.
- Leave the subject class blank until you have chosen it independently; then add location, class, year, volume, and copy as needed.
With the current bundled data, this example should produce B556c: B is the prefix, 556 comes from the lookup, and c comes from the title. If a future table correction changes this result, compare the displayed matching entry before using the old example.
Understand the two-digit option
Selecting two digits currently truncates the three-digit table code to its first two digits. The example becomes B55c. This is a shorter output from the bundled three-figure data, not a lookup in a separately curated two-figure table. Use it only where that behavior matches your library’s policy.
Title workmarks also follow a limited rule: DDC mode removes an initial English “a”, “an”, or “the” followed by whitespace and takes the first remaining character. It does not interpret articles in every language or resolve two titles beginning with the same letter.
Review before copying
Compare the candidate with neighboring records in the same class. Confirm that it preserves the intended order and does not unintentionally merge distinguishable works. A blank surname cannot produce an author mark, while 000 can indicate an unavailable table or an unmatched search; treat it as a reason to investigate.
For LC work, verify the Cutter independently using the appropriate LC schedule and shelflisting guidance. The LC display option changes assembly and punctuation, but still uses the application’s Cutter-Sanborn lookup. If the verified number differs, prepare the final label through a workflow that accepts your reviewed value.
Frequently asked questions
Should I enter the whole name in the surname box?
No. Use the separate name fields and review the filing form before generation.
Why can two books receive the same result?
They may share a name-based lookup and title initial. Check your shelf arrangement and local differentiation policy.
Can I use a result ending in 000?
Investigate the table load and search first. Do not accept the fallback as a verified author number.
References and further reading
Official references support the standards discussed here. Worked examples and local workflow suggestions are instructional illustrations.