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Have
you ever wondered how library books are assigned
their places on the shelves? Did you know that the
call number -- the number placed on the spine of
the book -- is a code which provides valuable
information about the book? This page will provide
an introduction to understanding and using library
call numbers.
What
are call numbers for?
Each
book in the library has a unique call number. A
call number is like an address: it tells us where
the book is located in the library.
Call
numbers appear:
- like
this, on the spines of books:
LB
2395
.C65
1991
and,
- like
this, in the online catalog:
LB2395 .C65 1991
Note
that the same call number can be written from
top-to-bottom, or left-to-right.
The
Boston Public Library uses Library of
Congress Classification for call numbers.
This system uses a combination of letters and
numbers to arrange materials by
subjects.
Reading
Call Numbers
Read
a call number by sections, line-by-line. Each
section is part of the "code".
example:
LB
2395
.C65
1991
- LB
-- Read the first line in alphabetical
order:
A, B, BF, C, D ... L, LA, LB, LC, M, ML
...
- 2395
-- Read the second line as a whole number:
1, 2, 3, ...45, ...100, 101, ... 1000, ... 2000,
...2430, 2431, 2432
- .C65
-- The third line is a combination of a letter
and numbers.
- Read
the letter alphabetically: A, B, C, D, E, ...
Y, Z
- Read
the letter as a decimal.
e.g. .C65 = .65
e.g. .C724 = .724
- 1991
-- This is the year the book was published.
Chronological order: 1979, 1985, 1991, 1992
...
Putting
Call Numbers in Shelf Order
To
understand how call numbers are put in order in
Library of Congress Classification, again look at
each section of the call number. These call numbers
are in the correct order:
- LA2301
.M37
- LB2327
.M3
- LB2327
.V53 1990
- LB2328
.B37
- LB2328
.C34
- LB2328
.C55
- LB2328
.C554 1982
- LB2395
.C65 1987
- LB2395
.C65 1991
Could
you see why the call numbers were arranged in this
order? Shelf-order can be confusing at first. Here
is the same list of call numbers, with explanations
of how they were put in order:
- LA2301
.M37
- LB2327
.M3 (LB comes after LA)
- LB2327
.V53 1990 (Both start with LB2327, V comes after
M)
- LB2328
.B37 (2328 comes after 2327)
- LB2328
.C34 (C comes after B)
- LB2328
.C55 (Both start with LB2328 .C, decimal .55
comes after .34)
- LB2328
.C554 1982 (Decimal .554 comes after
.55)
- LB2395
.C65 1987
- LB2395
.C65 1991 (Same call numbers except for date:
1991 comes after 1987)
What
does the call number mean?
Remember
that Library of Congress Classification arranges
materials by subjects. The first sections of the
call number represent the subject of the book. The
letter-and-decimal section of the call number often
represents the author's last name. And, as you
probably recall, the last section of a call number
is often the date of publication.
example:
Title: What You Need to Know About
Developing Study Skills, Taking Notes & Tests,
Using Dictionaries & Libraries,Author:
Marcia J. Coman.
Call number:
LB2395
.C65 1991
Let's
crack the code by examining the sections of this
call number:
- LB2395
= subject of the book: Methods of Study in
Higher Education
- .C65
= Coman, the author's last name
- 1991
= the publication year
Why
is this important to know?
Because
books are classified by subject, you can often find
several helpful books on the same shelf, or nearby.
For example, within the same call number LB2395,
there are other guides for college
study.
- LB2395
.C6 1960 - A Student's Guide to Efficient Study,
by Luella Cole
- LB2395
.C65 1991 - What You Need to Know ..., by Marcia
J. Coman
- LB2395
.L447 - Keys to College Success, by Minnette
Lenier
- LB2395
.O54 1983 - A Successful Student's Handbook, by
Rita Phipps
Since
Library of Congress Classification arranges
materials by subjects, knowing the letter(s) for
your subject area gives you a place to start
browsing the shelves. Click here
to view a guide to popular subjects and their
Library of Congress Classification
number.
For
more information about call numbers and finding
library materials, ask your librarian.
This
page was adapted from the Honolulu Community
College web site, written by Nadine
Leong-Kurio.
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