# 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. 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.$^{:95}$

## 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.$^{:95–96}$ The system was originally known as the Guelph Documents System.
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.

## 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. 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.
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 | geographic codes | geographic codes | agency codes | agency codes | unique identifiers | 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 |

## CODOC vs MARC

Some institutions have converted their CODOC records to MARC records. Here is an example of the same record in each format.

### CODOC

0001 ........ 0002 CA1 Z 160G05A ENG SSM WRBKMS 8 880510  ...@....... 0003 111CANADA. ROYAL COMMISSION ON GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION 0004 211REPORT OF THE ROYAL COMMISSION ON GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION - V.5 - THE OR 0005 212GANIZATION OF THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA - SUMMARY OF PROPOSALS FOR REORGA 0006 213NIZATION - ABRIDGED EDITION. 0007 221REPORT OF THE ROYAL COMMISSION ON GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION - V.5 BUSINESS 0008 222 MINISTERS ADMINISTRATION DIRECTION DUTIES ASSIGNMENTS COORDINATION BOAR 0009 223DS IDENTITY LICENCING REGULATION ADJUDICATION OPERATIONS AUTHORITY SHFT. 0010 231DEVILUTION PUBLIC TRANSPORT EXECUTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES MANAGEMENT SHFT. 0011 911ORGANIZATIONAL CHART OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRACY FOLDS OUT OF 0012 912BACK COVER.

### MARC

000 00829nam 2200133 4500 008 s1960 xxc f eng+ 110 1 $aCanada. Royal Commission on Government Organization.+ 245 10$aReport of the Royal Commission on Government Organization : V.5 - the O rganization of the Government of Canada - Summary of Proposals for Reorganizatio n - Abridged Edition.+ 300 $a1 v.+ 500 $aOrganizational Chart of the Federal Government Bureaucracy Folds Out of  Back Cover.+ 653 0 $aReport of the Royal Commission on Government Organization : V.5 Business  Ministers Administration Direction Duties Assignments Coordination Boards Iden tity Licencing Regulation Adjudication Operations Authority+ 653 0 $aDevilution Public Transport Executive Responsibilities Management+ 852 $bFED$hCA1 Z 160G05A + 949 $uGOVDOC+