Classification Manual (1993), Chaper 6

F e d e r a l D e p o s i t o r y L i b r a r y P r o g r a m

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Classification Manual
(Revised July 1993)
Chapter 6

Special Cases and Maps

[ Classification Manual Home | Table of Contents ]

Section 1. Special Cases

A. President and Executive Office of the President, including Committees and Commissions Established by Executive Order and Reporting Directly to the President

1. Permanent Agencies Reporting to the President
2. Serials

B. Multilateral International Organizations in which the United States Participates

Section 2. Maps

A. Dates on Maps

B. U.S. Geological Survey

1. Coordinates
2. Map Reference Number
3. Type of Map
4. Scale

C. Forest Service

D. Defense Mapping Agency and National Ocean Service

Chapter 6
Special Cases and Maps

Section 1
Special Treatment for Publications of Certain Agencies [ Top ]

The principles presented in the preceding chapters govern the classification of the majority of the publications of U.S. Government agencies. Publications of certain agencies, however, do not fit neatly into the patterns established by the Superintendent of Documents classification system. These are:

A. Publications of the President and the Executive Office of the President including Committees and Commissions established by executive order and reporting directly to the President.

B. Publications of multilateral international organizations in which the United States participates.

A. President and Executive Office of the President, including Committees and Commissions Established by Executive Order and Reporting Directly to the President [ Top ]

The agency symbol assigned to the President of the United States is PR followed by the number corresponding to the ordinal number of succession to the presidency.

Subdivisions after the agency symbol are established following normal practice.

In recent years, presidents have appointed many special committees and commissions to study particular problems and to report their findings directly to the chief executive. These organizations usually cease to exist after making their report. Their publications are usually few in number, and normal bureau treatment is not practical.

Special treatment is indicated to prevent establishment of classes which will not be used, and to keep together the publications of all such organizations appointed by one president.

Presidentially-appointed committees and commissions are assigned to one class, PR--.8:. A Cutter designation using the 2-figure table is assigned to each commission or committee, based on the principal subject word of its name.

A slash and a Cutter number based on the principal subject word of the title follows the Cutter designation for the agency. The Pr--.8: class is exceptional in using two Cutter numbers in sequence after the colon.

When a class has been established for a committee, the class continues under the establishing President, even though a new President may be elected. If the new President renews the establishment of the committee, then the class is transferred to the .8 class for the renewing President.

1. Permanent Agencies Reporting to the President [ Top ]

Beginning with the administration of President Kennedy, the continuing offices assigned to the President, which make up the Executive Office of the President, have been given permanent classes under the symbol PREX.

A change in administration does not bring about a change in the classes for such offices as the Office of Management and Budget, Council of Economic Advisers, Council on Environmental Quality, etc. These agencies have been given individual numbers as subordinate offices of the Executive Office of the President.

Series and book numbers are added in the usual manner.

2. Serials [ Top ]

Commissions and committees should be contacted when there is uncertainty about whether or not a publication is a serial. If the commission or committee has been established only for the duration of one administration, the intent to continue the publication indefinitely, which is a mandatory element in determining a serial, is lacking. Even if some of these publications look like serials, they should be classed as monographs.

If the commission or committee has been established for an indefinite period, then its serial publications are assigned unique classes in PREX 1. They are classed in PREX 1. rather than in the PR stem to avoid establishing a new class with every new President.

B. Multilateral International Organizations in which the United States Participates [ Top ]

The United States participates in many multilateral international organizations. Many of the publications of these organizations are published simultaneously by the United States and other countries. The United States portions of these organizations may also publish separately.

Separately published publications of these international organizations are classed under the State Department, since participation in these organizations is in the realm of foreign relations.

For example:

S 3.25:1/985

Canada and the United States annual joint report. International Boundary Commission

Only publications of the United States delegations or commissions are classified. Publications issued by the international organization as a whole are not considered United States Government publications and are not assigned Superintendent of Documents classification numbers.

Section 2 Maps [ Top ]

The classification numbers for many maps are constructed according to the general rules in chapters 1 through 4. This chapter covers special categories of maps whose classification numbers are derived from elements other than Cutter or series numbers. These special maps are primarily the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 7.5 minute quadrangle maps, Forest Service maps derived from them, and some Defense Mapping Agency (DMA) and National Ocean Service (NOS) maps.

Numbered map sequences will follow Cuttered map sequences within the same class stem; there is no need to establish separate class stems for each.

Elements of the book number are frequently printed on the map itself and should be used in the class number without alteration. When the various elements of the classification number are not printed on the map, they must be derived from other sources.

A map may be initially created by one agency and revised and re-issued by a second agency. These revised and re-issued maps are classified under the new issuing agency, even though the bibliographic information relating to the first agency is most prominently displayed.

The most common example of one agency revising and re-issuing another agency's map is the U.S. Forest Service revising and re-issuing U.S. Geological Survey 7.5 minute quadrangle maps of the national forests. For these Forest Service maps, use the Forest Service information rather than the USGS information when possible in construction the class number.

A. Dates on Maps [ Top ]

Dates on maps can be very confusing, because many quadrangles and other USGS maps are in a constant review process. There are specific periods for revision, but the changes are inserted without making changes in the original date information. The classifier must be very careful when examining a map to determine whether it is a duplicate reprinting of a map classified earlier or if it is a revised edition.

Always add the latest edition date to the class, unless the edition number is part of the numbering sequence.

Only a new printing date in the USGS colophon will show that a map has been revised. It is important to check the printing date, edition statement, and other areas of the map to decide if it is a "reprint with changes."

Edition statements include "Photorevised," "Photoinspected," "Provisional edition," or other wording showing that the map is different from a previous version.

Dates on maps are of different types and are shown in several ways:

1) Date of map information, usually shown with the title.

2) Date of edition, shown with the edition statement: Revised 1980. This date is used at the end of the quadrangle class to distinguish it from other editions of that specific quadrangle. Always use the most recent edition date.

3) Date of printing, shown in imprint, colophon, etc. This date is used in large sets of maps (e.g. large forest map sets) to group all sheets of the set together for the year.

The printing date in these large map sets is put before the coordinates and the rest of the elements of the map classification number.

For example:

A 13.28:G 82/5/987/(coordinates, etc.)

4)Date of re-use of the map base by a second agency. For instance, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) uses USGS quadrangles to show land use and minerals in areas of various states. These maps carry all the USGS information and dates, to which is added "BLM edition-(year)", as in "BLM edition-1992." The year of edition for the individual maps is placed at the end of the class. The map is classed under BLM, the agency issuing the revised edition.

For example:

I 53.11/4:40108-A 1-TM-100/991

There may be no date printed on the map. In these cases, check the shelf list to see if there is another record with the same bibliographic information. If there is, check with the issuing agency to see if the map in hand is a duplicate or a revised edition.

B. U.S. Geological Survey [ Top ]

The largest group of U.S. Government maps is issued by the U.S. Geological Survey in its 7.5 minute quadrangle series.

The class stem for this series is I 19.81:.

The book number following the colon is made up of 4 elements, signifying:

coordinates,

map reference number,

type of map, and

scale.

Though developed specifically for USGS quadrangles, the map reference number is also used when necessary in other map classes, especially in Forest Service maps based on USGS quadrangles.

These 4 elements are separated from each other by dashes. The edition date is added as a fifth element after a slash at the end of the class.

For example:

I 19.81:31099-H 6-TF-024/991

I 19.81 = class stem for USGS 7.5'

quadrangle series

31099 = coordinates

H 6 = map reference number

TF = type of map

024 = scale

991 = edition date

Other USGS quadrangle maps are grouped together in I 19.81/2:. These include the smaller 63,360 scale maps and the larger USGS/DMA 50,000 scale maps.

USGS/DMA 50,000 scale maps are classed under USGS because the maps are prepared by the USGS for distribution by DMA. They are not classed under DMA.

1. Coordinates [ Top ]

Map coordinates are numbers showing the degrees, seconds, and minutes of latitude and longitude. Only the degrees are used in the coordinates element of the classification number. The seconds and minutes are used in determining the map reference number.

The coordinates are usually represented by a 5-digit number printed in the lower right hand corner of the map. The first number, latitude (north-south), is represented by a 2-digit number. The second number, longitude (east-west), is represented by 3 digits. Use leading zeroes as necessary to make up the last 3 digits.

If the 5-digit coordinates number is not printed on the map, it is easily derived from the coordinates shown at the lower right corner of the map sheet. The numbers on the upper right represent the latitude (North); the lower numbers represent the longitude (West).

Map Coordinate Symbols

31 degrees, 37 minutes, 30 seconds north latitude

99 degrees, 52 minutes, 30 seconds west longitude

31° north

99° west

represented in the class number as 31099

2. Map Reference Number [ Top ]

The map reference number consists of a letter and a number. If the number is not printed on the map, it may be found on the Map Reference Number Key on the next page by using the minute and second numbers that follow the degree numbers in the coordinates.

Use 37'30" to match against the numbers in the North column on the grid.

Use 52'30" for the West numbers. Read across this line on the grid to find the map reference number: F8.

If the seconds or minutes are not printed after the degrees, assume they are 00.

Map Reference Number Key

From the lower right corner of the map, select North minutes and seconds. Match these to the same numbers in the North column. Select the West minutes and seconds from the map and match these to the corresponding West column. Use the number in that row in the class.

North West No.
00'00" 00'00" A 1

North West No.
07'30" 00'00" B 1

North West No.
15'00" 00'00" C 1

North West No.
22'30" 00'00" D 1

North West No.
30'00" 00'00" E 1

North West No.
37'30" 00'00" F 1

North West No.
45'00" 00'00" G 1

North West No.
52'30" 00'00" H 1

3. Type of Map [ Top ]

Two letters show the type of map:

AB Alaska Boundary Series Index

AF Alaska Boundary Series National Forest System

AL Alaska Boundary Series Bureau of Land Management System

AP Alaska Boundary Series National Park System

AW Alaska Boundary Series National Wildlife Refuge System

CF County (feet)

CM County (metric)

CP County (planimetric)

EI Ecological Inventory

LB Land Use and Land Cover (base)

LM Land Use and Land Cover (multicolor)

MM Surface Minerals Management Status

NA National Atlas (separate sales)

OM Orthophotomap

OQ Orthophotoquad

PF National Park, Monument (feet)

PI Photo Image Map

PL Planimetric

PM National Park, Monument (metric)

PR National Park, Monument (shaded relief)

RA Radar (airborne)

RF Regional (feet)

RM Regional (metric)

RP Regional (planimetric)

RR Regional (shaded relief)

RS Radar (satellite)

SI Satellite Imagery

SL Slope Map

SM Surface Management Status

SP State Base (planimetric)

SR State Base (shaded relief)

ST State Base (topographic)

TB Topographic Bathymetric

TF Topographic (feet)

TM Topographic (metric)

TR Topographic (shaded relief)

UB United States (base)

UG United States (general)

UM United States (magnetic)

UT United States (topographic)

WB World (base)

WG World (general)

WP World (political)

WT World (topographic)

4. Scale [ Top ]

The map's scale is shown in the class by 3 numbers. Usually it is printed in this form on the map, as the last element in the string of numbers that are used for the book number.

For example:

31099-F8-TF-024

024 signifies that the scale is 1:24,000

(1 inch = 24,000 feet)

If this string of numbers is not printed on the map, derive the number from the scale statement.

Use the portion of the number between the colon and the comma (representing thousands) and insert leading zeroes as necessary to make up 3 digits: 024.

C. Forest Service [ Top ]

The Forest Service produces some of its own maps. Forest Service maps are Cuttered under the name of the geographic area: forest, wilderness, etc., and are classified according to the general rules in chapters 1 and 2, and 4.

The Forest Service also modifies U.S. Geological Survey quadrangle maps. These maps have "Modified for USDA Forest Service Use" printed in the upper left corner.

Each forest map consists of a number of sheets as shown by the quadrangle location diagram at the bottom of the map. When all of the sheets for one forest are put together, they form one map, not many maps. Therefore, all the sheets of these modified quadrangle maps are Cuttered under the name of the forest, rather than under the individual quadrangle sheet name.

The forest name appears in small print in the lower right corner of the sheet under the Quadrangle Location Diagram. Ignore the quadrangle name in the upper right corner and its shortened form in the lower right corner.

If a separate map is issued for the same area, and it is not a new edition of an existing map, use the same Cutter number and add the next available superior number after a slash. Check the shelflist carefully before assigning a new superior number.

For example:

A 13.28:C 23/5

Carson National Forest, New Mexico. 1967. Revised 1975.

A 13.28:C 23/6

Carson National Forest, New Mexico, 1986-1987. (A separate map, not a new edition of the previous map)

A 13.28:C 23/6/991

Carson National Forest, New Mexico, 1991. (A new edition of the second map)

If in doubt whether a map is new or a revised edition, consult a map cataloger.

Once the Cutter and superior numbers have been established for a particular set of 7.5 minute sheets that make up the map for a forest, that Cutter and superior number remain the same for later editions of the same set. Only the year changes in the classification number.

A slash and the last 3 digits of the latest edition date are added after the Cutter, or after the superior number, if there is one, to keep all sheets of the set together.

After the date, add a slash followed by the map coordinates and map reference number, which is found with the Map Reference Key.

For example:

A 13.28:SH 2/3/992/37089-F 5

If "Interim" is printed on the lower left side of the map, add "/INT." at the end of the class.

For example:

A 13.28:H 94/4/44083-C 5/INT.

D. Defense Mapping Agency and National Ocean Service [ Top ]

Class DMA and National Ocean Service maps using the agency's numbering system. The numbers represent geographic location.

In some DMA maps, the first number, the general series number, represents the overall group of maps. This number may be followed by an individual map number. If no individual map number appears, substitute the stock number, replacing any X's with a slash. (X's are placed in the stock number to fill unused number spaces.)

For example:

General series number: 2201 (applies to large group of maps)

No individual series number printed

Stock number: 2201X01

Class number: D 5.355:2201/01

Be cautious when using map numbers in the class. Make sure that what may appear to be an individual map number is not in reality a general number for a group of maps.

Rarely, there will be no agency numbering on the map. In these cases the stock number may be used following the agency stem. Lettering in the stock number shows the map type.

Do not use the International Chart Number in the class if it is different from the DMA stock number.

Single DMA and NOS maps usually are classed only with the agency map numbering system printed on the map and are rarely Cuttered.

For example:

DMA number: 62463

Stock number: 62AHA62463

Edition date: 1992

Class: D 5.356:62463/992

NOS number: 12233

Stock number: 12233

Edition date: 1992

Class: C 55.418/7:12233/992

However, NOS serial maps are usually Cuttered.

A service of the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office. Questions or comments: asklps@gpo.gov.

Last updated: December 5, 2000 Page Name: http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/pubs/classman/cl_ch6.html

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