Class PS8000, A Classification for Canadian Literature - Fifth Edition

Preface to the fifth edition

LAC’s Indigenous Heritage Action Plan states that we will adapt the way we describe LAC’s collection items related to First Nations, Inuit and the Métis Nation to enhance access and ensure a culturally appropriate and respectful approach.

Because the language describing Indigenous materials is often not reflective of the terminology preferred by First Nation, Inuit and Métis Nation communities in Canada, in 2019, LAC started a review of subject headings and classification. The direct contribution of First Nations, Inuit and the Métis Nation is an essential part of our efforts to update the vocabulary.

The fifth edition of Class PS8000, a classification for Canadian literature, was revised in 2022-2023 to update the vocabulary describing Indigenous Peoples.

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Preface to the fourth edition

The fourth edition of Class PS8000: a classification for Canadian literature is a revision of the third edition of the schedule which appeared in 2003. The PS8000 schedule was first developed in response to a need in Canada for a more specific treatment of the topic than that provided by the Library of Congress schedules. In particular, a comprehensive classification scheme for Canadian literature regardless of language is considered preferable in the Canadian context to the arrangement provided by the Library of Congress classification which separates Canadian literature by language, placing, for example, Canadian literature in English in PR and Canadian literature in French in PQ.

It is not possible for the Library of Congress to adopt and incorporate PS8000 into its own classification because PS8000 differs in principle from Library of Congress practice, both in its assembling of Canadian literature regardless of language and in keeping novels with the rest of Canadian literature instead of placing them in PZ. The Library of Congress, however, recognizes a need for PS8000 and endorses its use as an official alternate classification scheme. In order to eliminate the danger of a conflict in notation at some future date, the Library of Congress gives assurance that it will never develop the PS8000 area for its own uses.

The fourth edition has been prepared electronically. This will enable Library and Archives Canada to update the schedule on a more frequent basis.

The cataloguing staff of Library and Archives Canada has drawn on its years of experience with the PS8000 schedule and the Library’s extensive collection of Canadian literature to prepare the fourth edition. We would like to acknowledge the contributions of the cataloguing staff, and in particular the efforts of Laura May, Paula Van Strien and Michael van Dyk in the preparation of this fourth edition.

Comments from interested users have been most useful in updating the schedule. Library and Archives Canada welcomes further suggestions for future expansion and refinement of the schedule.

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Introduction

The PS8000 schedule for Canadian literature is based on the Library of Congress schedule for American literature in English (PS1-PS3626). PS8000 is uniquely different from the LC literature schedules in that it brings together all Canadian literature regardless of language. Not only does the Canadian schedule replace the Library of Congress number ranges for English Canadian literature (PR9180-9199.4) and French Canadian literature (PQ3900 – PQ3919.3), but also Canadian literature that would fall into all of the other language groupings in the LC schedules.

Even though PS8000 classifies Canadian literature together in one sequence, provisions have been made to allow libraries to provide separate classification numbers for French Canadian literature. To do this PS8000 uses only odd numbers, leaving even numbers optional for the separate classification of French Canadian literature. Some libraries have classified all Canadian literature together, some have used odd and even numbers for English and French respectively, but many more have adopted the practice (not even contemplated in the original schedule) of simply converting PS8000 to PS9000 for French Canadian literature. Provisions have also been made within the schedule for distinguishing history and criticism as well as collections of the literature of the many heritage languages of Canada.

We are often asked by cataloguers across the country to provide them with guidelines as to who is a Canadian author. Often authors whose work we catalogue make this obvious by stating their nationality. The question becomes more complex, when, as is often the case, many new Canadians start their writing careers in another country. In general, at Library and Archives Canada, our practice is to use the PS8000 schedule for new Canadians based on an author’s residence in Canada and apparent intent to remain here.

As has been stated, the PS8000 schedule follows the general structure of the Library of Congress schedule for American literature in English. The schedule starts with generalities, followed by history and criticism, then collections of Canadian literature and finally works by individual authors. The Canadian schedule provides for more time periods than the LC schedules for English and French Canadian literature. In general, PS8000 provides the following time periods:

Pre-Confederation

1867-1913

1914-1967

1968-2003

2004-

The fourth edition covers new time periods and new concepts in literary forms and studies. These are illustrated in the examples provided throughout the schedule.

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General PS8001-8039

General

8001 Periodicals
Only periodical devoted exclusively to creative literature and literary history and criticism are classed here.
Includes periodicals devoted to special forms of literature (e.g., Poetry).

8003 Yearbooks

8005 Societies
Includes societies devoted to special forms of literature (e.g., Poetry).
Societies devoted to literature in general are classed in PN21-29.

8007 Congresses

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Collections of monographs, studies, etc.

8011 By several authors

.5 By individual authors, .A-.Z

8015 Encyclopaedias. Dictionaries

8021 Theory and principles of the study of Canadian literature

8023 History of Canadian literary history

8025 Biography of historians and critics of Canadian literature

.A1, Collective

.A2-.Z, Individual

8027 Philosophy, relation to other subjects, etc.
Including relation to Canadian history
Cf. PS8093-8097

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Study and teaching

Cf. PN171.4-239, Technique. Literary composition. Rhetoric

8031 General works

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Study and teaching during the period

8033 By period

.1 Pre-Confédération

.2 1867-1913

.3 1914-1967

.4 1968-2003

.5 2004-

8035 By place, .A-.Z

8037 By school, college or university, .A-.Z

8039 By form, .A-.Z

e.g.,

.D7, Drama

.E8, Essays

.F5, Fiction

.O7, Oratory

.P6, Poetry

.P7, Prose

.W5, Wit and humour

.5 Literary research

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BACLAC - Library Classification Schedules

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