The Alpha-Numeric System for Classification of Recordings (ANSCR) was adopted as our filing system in 1993. Carol Mongold, the selector for many of the library's music CDs, explains "the ANSCR system allows sound recordings to be labeled and shelved in a way that offers the most browse ability for customers."

By grouping similar items in music genres or categories, and then arranging by composers and performers within the genre, the arrangement can encourage finding specific items and also the serendipitous discovery of new music through browsing.

If you have always wondered what the mysterious letters and numbers on a Music CD label meant, this guide can help.

ANSCR call numbers consist of four basic lines of information (called terms).

1. Term One Letter or letters representing one of the ANSCR music genres or categories.
2. Term Two First four consecutive letters of the composer’s surname, performer’s surname, author’s surname, title, or topic – choice determined by term one. Most term twos are cuttered to create unique terms for each artist.
3. Term Three Initial letters of the first three significant words of the title, or the first three consecutive letters of a one-word title.
4. Term Four First letter of the performer’s name (production company if a children’s recording) followed by the last two digits of the recording company’s production number. The number following the hyphen indicates the copy number. Term Four is for cataloging purposes and is not generally used by customers to identify items.

The ANSCR Classification Scheme

• A Anthologies (wedding music)
• B Operas: Complete and Selections
• C Choral Music
• D Vocal Music (by solo voices trained for the concert or operatic stage)

E (Orchestral Music)

• EA General Orchestral
• EB Ballet Music
• EC Concertos
• ES Symphonies
• F Chamber music (3-9 performers, one player per part)

G (Solo Instrumental music – can be accompanied by another instrument)

• GG Guitar
• GO Organ
• GP Piano
• GS Stringed Instruments (excluding violin)
• GV Violin
• GW Wind Instruments
• GX Percussion Instruments
• H Band Music (concert band, traditional marching band, pipe band – usually military)
• K Musical Shows and Operettas
• L Soundtrack Music (motion picture and television)

M (Popular music)

• MA Pop Music (light, easy listening)
• MC Country/Western (bluegrass)
• MG Contemporary Christian/Gospel
• MJ Jazz (big band)
• MN New Age
• MR Rock (blues, R&B, reggae)
• MRH Hip-hop/Rap
• P Folk and Ethnic Music – National (Cajun, Hawaiian, Indian)
• Q World music (International)
• R Holiday Music
• S Humor (musical humor, stand-up comedy)
• SR Radio Shows (Red Carpet only)
• Y Sounds and Special Effects (calliope, carousel)

Z (Children’s Recordings)

• ZE Classical/Orchestra (music appreciation)
• ZI Instructional
• ZL Soundtracks
• ZM Music (generic sing-alongs, lullabies, gospel)
• ZMA Popular music (for older kids – rock)
• ZP Folk/Ethnic (international)
• ZR Holiday
• ZS Spoken (audio books)
• YS Spoken (young adult)
• ZY Sound effects

This article is the first in a series about enjoying the library's Music CD collection..

• Browsing the Music CD collection
• Search for Music CDs in the catalog
• How are the Music CDs arranged?