Florida International University Libraries Florida
Public Documents
Classification Scheme


This classification system was developed by Florida Atlantic University for their Florida Depository collection and includes modifications for the Florida International University North Campus Library.

Classification Scheme

The classification scheme for Florida public documents consists of a four element code:

  1. A two or three letter code for each Florida governmental agency followed by a decimal point and another letter representing agency divisions.

  2. A numerical designation for type of publication.

  3. A "cutter" type designation for each individual publication or series.

  4. A designation for each individual publication within a series or for new editions of monographic publications.

The Agency Code

Each agency within the Florida governmental structure is assigned a unique two or three letter code - usually an acronym for the agency name - followed by a decimal point and an arbitrary letter to designate a division of the agency. Each agency name is rearranged so that it will appear alphabetically under the first important or distinctive word in the agency name. A listing of agency codes is found in Appendix A .

Example:
Department of Education becomes Education Department.

Type of Publication Designation

The second element of the classification is the number from the chart below which most nearly describes the type of document being classified.

  1. Annual report (lb for biennial report) (annual services)
  2. General publications (2b directories)
  3. Serials, series, periodicals (numbered or dated)
  4. Folders, circulars, descriptive materials (posters)
  5. Laws administered by the agency
  6. Rules and regulations of the agency
  7. News releases, statistical releases, newsletters, etc.
  8. Handbooks, guides, maps, manuals
  9. Proceedings, minutes, transactions, journals (reprints of journal articles)

The "Type of Publication" designation uses a punctuation mark, the colon (:) , to separate it from the next element of the code.

Individual Publication Schecule

The classification code is completed according to the following schedule. If the "Type of Publication" number is:

  1. Follow with a three year digit code for the final year in the report (i.e. annual report of the Education Department for the 1976-77 academic year would be EDU.Al:977).

  2. Follow with the "cutter numbers" from the "simplified Cutter Numbers for Florida Documents" (see below) for the first distinctive or important word in the title. New editions are noted by adding virgule or slash (/) and three digit year code for year of later edition.

  3. Follow with the "cutter number" for important or distinctive word in the series title, followed by a slash and volume/issue number or if unnumbered, year/month/date in number code (i.e. May 25, 1969 becomes ((969/5/25).

  4. Same as #2.
  5. Same as #2.
  6. Same as #2.
  7. Same as #2.
  8. Same as #2.
  9. Same as #2.

Simplified Cutter Table for Florida Documents

The cutter number is formed by taking the first letter of the word to be cuttered followed by the number for the next two letters (independent of each other) as indicated on the following scale: 

                         A -- B, 1
                         C -- D, 2
                         E -- G, 3
                         H -- K, 4 
                         L -- O, 5
                         P -- R, 6
                         S -- T, 7
                         U -- W, 8
                         X -- Z, 9

Examples:
Birds = B46
Tax = T19

Conflicts in cutter numbers, arising from two different publications from the same agency on the same subject (a rarity), are resolved by adding a slash and a number for succeeding publications if adjustment in the cutter number is not possible in the she lf list.

Example:
Two general publications from the Agriculture and Consumer Services Department, Forestry Division, whose title begins with the distinctive word "birds" world become AGR.L2:B46 and AGR.L2:B47 or AGR.L2:B46/2

This page is maintained by:
Elaine Winske
winskee@servms.fiu.edu
Last revised: April 3, 1996