Finding Books

Basic Search Techniques
Interpreting the Results
Call Numbers Explained
Browsing the Catalog
Activity

 

Finding Books

Call Numbers Explained

The Library of Congress Call Number system is a means of classifying items within a library so they can be accurately placed within the collection.

• The call number is broken up into the following divisions:
  
  
  
  
  

• The call number should be read in the following way:
  
  
  
  The classification number should be read alphabetically (Q before QA, QA before QB...)
  
  The number after the classication should be read numerically as a positive number (1s before 10s, 10s before 100s, 100s before 1000s)
  
  The number after the period should be read as a decimal (.52 before .55, .55 before .6)
  
  

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