The first step is to determine whether the item being cataloged is fiction or non-fiction. In most libraries, these two types of materials are shelved separately and treated differently in the cataloging process. Most of the time, fictional materials are shelved alphabetically by the author’s last name, to create a very browse-able collection of recreational-use materials. If this is the case, the call number is often easily made up of the author’s last name, and perhaps indicators for the title and the date of publication. Alternatively, some works of fiction are considered to be classic literature, and if this is the case, are sometimes shelved in the 800’s, the non-fiction section for literary works. This section contains literature that is exemplary of a time period or a particular style, is well studied, and is regarded as a necessary part of a library collection. These works should be treated as any other non-fiction work when it comes to using the DDC. Creating complete call numbers for fiction materials will be covered in the final section of this course.

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