Government of Canada
Catalogue Numbers

Contents

• Introduction
• Purpose
• Structure
• What needs a number?
• What is a new edition?
• Where should these numbers appear on a publication?
• Where can I get more information?

Introduction

Government of Canada catalogue numbers (formerly called DSS catalogue numbers) are assigned to all government of Canada (GoC) publications. If an information product is going to be distributed outside of the Department that created it then it should have a GoC catalogue number.

These numbers are assigned by the Depository Services Program, usually in conjunction with an ISBN. Their use is mandated under the Treasury Board Communications Policy.

Purpose

GoC catalogue numbers serve three main purposes:

1. They serve as a means of arranging publications on the shelves of documents collections of many libraries both in Canada and around the world.
2. They are used to identify publications by Canadian Government Publishing and some departments for both sales and distribution.
3. They provide a useful link between publications published in multiple formats (for example you can verify whether a print copy is the same edition as what has been posted on the Internet).

These numbers have been in use for over forty years and are familiar to many people ordering publications.

Structure

A typical GoC catalogue number will consist of a series of letters and numbers. For example:

En40-568/2001E

• The letter(s) at the beginning identify the issuing department or agency (in this case En indicates Environment Canada)
• The numbers immediately following identify the branch of the department or agency (in this case 40 represents Environmental Protection).
• The next group of numbers identifies either whether a publication is an annual, monograph, series or periodical, the series and series issue number, or the number in which a monograph was reported to the DSP. (in this case, this is the 568th Environmental Protection monograph recorded by the DSP).
• The numbers usually end with the a date and a letter. The date is taken from the title if applicable (for example Annual Report, 2000) or from the actual date of publication. New editions of a previously published work are distinguished by changing this date.
• The final letter can indicate the language of the publication or its format (in this case the E indicates English). Since 1980, the lack of a language letter at the end of a catalogue number indicates that a publication is bilingual in one volume or file.

IMPORTANT: In order to ensure the integrity and accuracy of the GoC catalogue number system, government departments are requested not to attempt to construct and assign their own government of Canada catalogue numbers on the basis of the above information. GoC catalogue numbers should be obtained only from the DSP.

What needs a number ?

A new GoC catalogue number is required for each new individual new publication, including:

• Each new annual edition
• Each issue in a series
• Each new edition or revision
• Each separate language edition
• Each new format

A GoC catalogue number is not required for:

• Straight reprints
  • Reprints should use the catalogue number that appeared in the original version.
• Issues of a periodical
  • Periodicals are given catalogue numbers, but this number need not be printed upon the publication. The part of the number signifying the volume and number of the particular issue changes with the issue and it is hard to ensure the accuracy of the printed catalogue number within standing pages.

What is a new edition ?

A helpful rule of thumb for determining whether a publication is a new edition or a reprint with minor changes is this:

Would a person using this publication for its content require the new version or could he use the old version instead ?

If the changes are sufficient to warrant a person's acquiring the new version for the sake of its accuracy, timeliness or additional information then the publication is a new edition. For example, changing the contact information (such as telephone numbers) in a publication creates a new edition. Changing the colour of the cover does not.

Where should these numbers appear on a publication ?

Generally, the most common place for a catalogue number to be printed is on the verso of the title page, underneath the copyright line and above the ISBN. For example:

© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 2001

However if this is not possible or appropriate, the most important factor is that the catalogue number and ISBN are printed accurately and legibly in the publication. The actual location can vary, for example they can appear on the face of a CD-ROM, or on the back of a Kit.

Where can I get more information ?

The last edition of the Outline of Classification which describes the government of Canada catalogue numbers in detail was published in 1983 and is currently out of print. A new edition (the 5th) is currently undergoing final revision and is expected to be published shortly. The new edition will be freely available on the Internet.

It is possible to search under specific catalogue numbers using the DSP Catalogue.

For specific questions it is best to contact DSP staff directly.