Showing posts with label MVHS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MVHS. Show all posts

Friday, April 17, 2009

The Black Death

In processing The Black Death (from the "Pivotal Moments in History" series) by Diane Zahler (082259076X) for MVHS, I noticed that there is a mix of call numbers currently being used for The Black Death. Understandably, books may differ in emphasis from more scientific to more historical. Nonetheless, I figured it's a good topic to look into. Here are the numbers that are currently being used:

  • 362.1969 = 362 Social welfare problems and services + .1 Physical illness + .19 Services to patients with specific conditions + .196 Specific conditions + .1969 Other diseases
  • 614.45732 = 614.4 Incidence of and public measures to prevent specific diseases and kinds + .45 = Patient isolation + ?
  • 614.4/9/4 = 614.4 Incidence of and public measures to prevent specific diseases and kinds + .49 History of epidemics + 614.494 Europe
  • 614.5/732 = 614.5 Incidence and public measures to prevent specific disease and kinds of diseases + 614.57 Bacterial diseases + .573 Bacterial diseases + .923 Pasteurella infections, yersinia infections, chlamydia infections, tularemia + .5732 Plague
  • 616.9232 = 616 Diseases + .9 Other Diseases + .92 Bacterial diseases + .923 Pasteurella infections, yersinia infections, chlamydia infections, tularemia + .9232 Plague
  • 940.14 = 940 History of Europe + .1 Early history to 1453 + .14 Age of feudalism, 800-1099
  • 940.1/92 = 940 History of Europe + .1 Early history to 1453 + .19 1300-1453 + .192 1300-1399 (Including period of Black Death)
  • 942.038 = 942 England and Wales + .03 Period of House of Plantagenet, 1154-1399 + .038 Reign of Richard II, 1377-1399

Yet again, every book may have a specific slant that explains placement in one number over another. It just seems like many of them may have enough in common to be grouped more closely together. 940.192 makes a lot of sense for a historical number since it specifically includes the period of Black Death. These other numbers also seem very valid: 614.494 614.5732, and 616.9262! I think any of these 4 could be good matches and so I guess I'll stick to the recommended number for the book: 614.5732. This may be a good area for people to check in their own collections, though.