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Mountaineers Library Subject Groupings

Mountaineers Library Subject Groupings

Owned by Lowell Skoog
Last updated: Feb 08, 2018

During reorganization of the Mountaineers Library, the following system will be used to group books by subject.

The system consists of four parts:

  • Geographical scope (2 characters)
  • Primary activity (1 character)
  • Focus (1 character)
  • Wildcard (1 character)

See Examples at the bottom of this page.

Part 1: Geographical Scope - North America

CodeGeographical Area
NANorth America, generally

NKAlaska, Yukon
NWWashington, OR, ID, BC
NCCalifornia
NDDesert southwest, NV, UT, AZ, NM, TX
NXMexico
NHHawaii
NRRockies (Canada and US)

NP

Plains (Canada and US)
NEEast of Mississippi River

Part 1 (cont'd): Geographical Scope - Rest of World

CodeGeographical Area
AFAfrica
ASAsia
EUEurope
OCOceania (Australia, NZ)
POPolar regions
SACentral and South America
WOWorld (many regions, or universal themes)

Part 2: Primary Activity

CodeActivity
BBicycling
C

Conservation, environmental issues

FFirst aid, outdoor medicine
GGeneral interest (not focused on outdoors)
HHiking, trail running
MMountaineering, climbing (including rescue)
NNaturalist, geology, earth sciences
OOutdoor activities, general
PPhotography
SSnowsports
TTravel (usual and unusual modes)
UCaving (i.e. underground)
VVolunteering, non-profits, etc
W

Water sports (paddling)

XEarly exploration
YSailing (i.e. yachting)

Part 3: Focus

CodeClassification
BIndividual biography or narrative
FFiction, humor, poetry
GGuidebooks, maps
HHistory, science and culture (including biographies of multiple people)
PPictorial
TTechnique (how-to, including navigation, etc)

Part 4: Wildcard

CodeSignificance
DDispense → Regardless of other factors (i.e. truly obsolete).
NNone → No wildcard assigned.
KKeeper →  A book with a special Northwest (or Mountaineers) connection.
MPublished by Mountaineers Books (including Braided River and Skipstone imprints).


Examples

TitleGeographyActivityFocusWildcardComment
Allison, Beyond the Limits: A Woman's Triumph on EverestASMBKNorthwest expedition
Barnett, Cross-Country DownhillWOST

N

Snow sports technique
Beckey, Cascade Alpine GuideNWMGMNo brainer
Hornbein, Everest: The West RidgeASMBKNorthwest climber/author
Jettmar, The Alaska River Guide, Canoeing, Kayaking, and RaftingNKWGNWater sports guidebook
Jones, Climbing in North AmericaNAMHNClassic national history
Logue, Best of the Appalachian TrailNEHGNRegional guidebook
Miller, The North CascadesNWCPMNo brainer
O'Connell, Beyond Risk: Conversations with ClimbersWOMHMPublished by Mountaineers Books
Ortenburger, Climber's Guide to the Teton Range
NRMGNRegional guidebook
Mountaineering: The Freedom of the HillsWOMTMClassic mountaineering textbook