We're just beginning cataloging our collection.
We use Dewey. We have already cataloged several this way.
This is what we're doing-Is this ok?
1st line of Call number should be Dewey number
2nd line-1st 3 letters of author's last name
3rd line-copyright date
Replies
The cataloging element can also include handy locative identifiers:
KIT
259
K01
indicates an item of mixed media (DVD and book, etc.)
DVD
259
K01
for a DVD (if separately shelved from main collection)
B
K01
Can be useful to catalog Biographies together but I generally prefer they be cataloging with the general collection under the number of whatever field they worked in (500, 600 for scientists, etc., 800 writers, etc.)
Picture books for children I use E (for everybody)
E
Ach
B99
JF is the designation for juvenile chapter books and is otherwise cataloged like general fiction.
The date can be useful in non-automated libraries to scan for currency in a subject area and help with weeding and selection of new resources.
The first and second lines that you indicated are what are usually used for books for adults. You may want to add a third line with the first three letters of the series title and add "01" "02", etc. indicating what number in the series the item is for fiction books written as a series. For instance: the first book in the Redemption series by Karen Kingsbury would be
F
Kin
Red01
Look in the right-hand column on this page under sponsors and click on the LifeWay.com link. That will take you to resources which will be invaluable to you as you are administering your church library. Purchase the "Classification System for Church Libraries" and the PDF download copy of Church Library Ministry Information Service (19.99). This CLMIS has been updated within the last few months and has information on all aspects of Church Library Ministry. Use these resources in conjunction with the EQUIP process to build your knowledge base and to train your team in all areas of Church Library.
I like the system for including the series information in the call number. Not all libraries use it.
Also some libraries use the Cutter system for the second line author information. This system will give you numbers that can go with each different author so the call number for the Karen Kingsbury book "Fifteen Minutes" would be
F
K55f
2013 (if deemed necessary)
The "f" after the 55 is the first letter of the first word in the title. The "55' is the number that goes with Kingsbury. This allows you to have different numbers for books by Karen Kingsbury rather than just "Kin" on all of them. The book to determine these number is titled "Cutter-Sanborn Three-Figure Author Table" and can be found to purchase on line.