General classification

Advanced classification

Classifying biographies & autobiographies

Date trouble-shooter

Cutter table

Cataloguing FAQs

Index

Choosing a Call Number date when there are many dates to consider

Selecting a call number date will only be a problem when multiple dates (usually on the title page verso) are listed. The general rule is that reprint dates should be ignored. A “reprint” (a.k.a. “impression”) is an unabridged, unrevised, uncorrected reprinting of a work printed earlier by the same publisher. Even when the reprint date appears on the title page, it should be ignored and the original publication date (which normally appears on the title page verso) should be used on the call number.

But note that when a publisher re-publishes a book originally published by another publisher, that work should be regarded as a "republication" rather than a "reprint." The republication date should, in this case, be used.

The following "trouble shooter" is designed to resolve the question of which of the many dates that appear on the title page and its verso should be selected when you construct a call number.  

Does the book identify a single publisher or does it identify more than one?

Single publisher / More than one publisher

The book identifies only one publisher.

If there is a title page date and the title page verso has only a copyright date (verso), does the book include a dated preface or introduction or acknowledgment?

Yes / No

OR

Does the item have a different format (e.g., paperback, cd-rom) from its initially published manifestation, or are there corrections to the content of the earlier manifestation of the work?

Yes / No

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Yes, the title page date and the copyright date (verso) differ, and the book includes a dated preface or introduction or acknowledgment.

Use the date closest to the date given in the introduction (etc.). This will normally be the copyright date. The title page date is most likely a reprint date.

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No, although the title page date and the copyright date (verso) differ, the book includes NO dated preface or introduction or acknowledgment.

Use the title page date in your call number.

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Yes, it is a reprint with changes in format (e.g., paperback, cd-rom) or corrections to content.

Choose (in this order):

1. Use earliest corrected or reformatted reprint date as appears on the title page verso
2. Use corrected or reformatted reprint date as appears on the title page

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No, there are no changes in format (e.g., paperback, cd-rom) or corrections to content.

The item is a reprint. Ignore reprint or impression dates (whether they appear on the title page or not) and choose the original publication date.

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No, it is NOT a reprint WITHOUT format changes or corrections (book is an original [first, second, third, paperback, Viking, etc.] edition):

Choose (in this order):

1. Publication date of the latest edition
2. Copyright date of the latest edition as appears on the title page verso
3. If the above two dates differ, go here.

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Book lists multiple publishers.

Is the book a later republication by another publisher?

Yes / No

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Yes, the book is a later republication by another publisher:

Is it a republication with format changes or corrections?

Yes / No

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Yes, book is a republication with format changes or corrections.

Choose (in this order):

1. The earliest corrected or reformatted republication date of the latest publisher as appears on the title page
2. The earliest corrected or reformatted republication date of the latest publisher as appears on the title page verso

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No, book is NOT a republication with format changes or corrections. The book is a simple republication of an original [first, second, third, etc.] edition.

Choose (in this order):

1. The earliest republication date of the latest republisher as appears on the title page
2. The earliest republication date of the latest republisher as appears on the title page verso

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No, the book is NOT a later republication by another publisher. The book is published simultaneously by two or more different publishers.

In these cases, there will normally be a single copyright or publication date.

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