CODOC

CODOC is a system of library classification developed at the University of Guelph in the 1960s and 1970s. CODOC is a syllabic abbreviation formed from the words cooperative documents.[1] Unlike Library of Congress Classification, Dewey Decimal Classification, or Universal Decimal Classification, CODOC is not a universal system. Rather, it is intended for use only with government publications. Like many other schemes intended to classify government publications, such as SuDocs, CODOC arranges materials by creator, rather than by subject.[2]: 95 

History

The need for a system to better organize government publications was identified in 1966 at the University of Guelph. At that time, government publications were spread throughout various libraries and classified using a wide variety of schemes. The library hired Margaret Beckman to design an automated system that would provide access to all of the government publications in the library's collections. Beckman designed and implemented a system on a GEAC 800 microcomputer.[2]: 95–96  The system was originally known as the Guelph Documents System.[3]

In 1972, ownership and operation of CODOC was transferred to the created Ontario Universities' Library Cooperative System (OULCS) Documents Project, and the project was renamed CODOC to reflect its cooperative nature.[3]

Structure

Unlike SuDocs, which is intended for use only with United States federal government publications, CODOC can classify the documents of any government at any level, as well as those of non-governmental organizations. Each call number begins with a two-letter code designating the country or non-governmental agency. This is followed by a number designating the level of government (1 or national, 2 for province or state, 3 for county, etc.), then by optional two-letter codes designating province, territory, or state.[4] The codes indicating geography are followed by alphabetical codes indicating the department or agency that published the material, then numeric codes indicating the branch of that agency. The individual title is identified by numbers indicating the year and an alphanumeric code that designates the individual book or journal.[5]

The example below breaks down the parts of a CODOC call number using the example of Report of the Ontario Health Survey Committee, with the call number CA2 ON H670 50R25.

Breakdown of the call number CA2 ON H670 50R25
geographic codes agency codes unique identifiers
country level of government province agency subagency year book number
CA 2 ON H 670 50 R25
Canada provincial Ontario Ministry of Health Ontario Health Survey Committee 1950 report

References
  1. Cross, Emma; Lafortune, Sylvie (2019-09-12). "Government Information in Canadian Academic Libraries, 2017–2018: Survey of Academic Librarians". DttP: Documents to the People. 47 (3): 6–14. doi:10.5860/dttp.v47i3.7121. ISSN 0091-2085.
  2. Castonguay, Russell (1984). A comparative guide to classification schemes for local government documents collections. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-313-24208-9. OCLC 10348702.
  3. Presser, Carolynne (1978-03-01). "CODOC: A Computer-Based processing and Retrieval System for Government Documents". College & Research Libraries. 39 (2): 94–98. doi:10.5860/crl_39_02_94. ISSN 2150-6701.
  4. Gillham, Virginia (1980-01-01). "The Guelph document system". Government Publications Review. Part A. 7 (3): 211–216. doi:10.1016/0196-335X(80)90096-5. ISSN 0196-335X.
  5. Phillips, Kaetlyn. "Archer Library: Government Publications: Finding Government Publications". library.uregina.ca. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
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