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Understanding Call Numbers

Understanding Call Numbers. Welcome to the Student Workers Training Modules. This module is an introduction to the Library of Congress call number system. . Why have a system?. Because when you have a lot of stuff, you need a way to organize it!! . The LC System.

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Understanding Call Numbers

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  1. Understanding Call Numbers Welcome to the Student Workers Training Modules This module is an introduction to the Library of Congress call number system.

  2. Why have a system? Because when you have a lot of stuff, you need a way to organize it!!

  3. The LC System Libraries use classification systems to organize items on the shelves. The BVU Library, like many academic libraries in the U.S., uses the Library of Congress classification system. The Library of Congress (LC) system uses a combination of letters and numbers to form call numbers. LB 2395 .C65 1991

  4. Why call numbers? • 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. • Books written about the same subject have similar call numbers, which groups them together on the shelf, making it easier to browse the library's holdings on a specific topic. • Without call numbers, finding a book would be like finding a needle in a haystack.

  5. Where do call numbers appear? • Call numbers appear on the spines of books (in several lines) • And in the library catalog (on a single line)

  6. Dissecting Call Numbers • Read call numbers line by line. • The first line of the call number contains one, two, or occasionally three letters. • Read the first line in alphabetical order. When books have more than one letter, the single lettered books are first on the shelf (to the left), followed by those with double letters. L 2395 .C65 1991 LB 2395 .C65 1991 (Examples on next page)

  7. In Correct Order BA 316 .P8 1963 BF 30 .A56 K 1401 .B79 2003 KF 48 .U5 1994 KFI 4554 .I6 E6 2000 LB 5 .N25

  8. Dissecting Call Numbers • Read the second line as a whole number. If the number contains a period with trailing digits (like 678.9 and 678.93), read it like you would a decimal number (think of money!) • If the letters on the first line of the call number are the same, the book with the smaller number on the second line is shelved to the left of the book with the larger number. LB 2395 .C65 1991 (Examples on next page)

  9. In Correct Order QA 70.5 .B38 1997 QA 76 .S9 1987 Guide QA 76.159 .E78 1975 QA 76.16 .C82 QA 76.2 .K73 M31 2003 QA 76.273 .H29 1996

  10. Dissecting Call Numbers • The third line is a combination of a letter and numbers. Books are shelved alphabetically according to the letter after the decimal point. Read the number as a decimal. • If two books share the same letter after the decimal, the book with the smaller decimal number is shelved to the left of the book with the larger decimal number. LB 2395 .C65 1991 (Examples on next page)

  11. In Correct Order QL 70 .E65 2006 QL 70 .E724 QL 70 .E8 L35 1990 QL 70 .F33 QL 70 .K7 U6 1938 QL 70 .K777 2000

  12. Are your eyes sore yet???

  13. Dissecting Call Numbers • Some call numbers have more than one combination letter-number line. • Again, read the letters on this line alphabetically and the numbers as decimals. • There is an implied decimal point in front of the numbers on this line. Thus, U39 would be shelved before U5. Why?? Because 39 = .39 and 5 = .50. Since .39 is smaller than .50, that comes first on the shelf. LB 2395 .C65 U5 1991 (Examples on next page)

  14. In Correct Order QE 862 .D5 L22 QE 862 .D5 L35 QE 862 .D5 L4571 QE 862 .D5 L461 QE 862 .D5 M3311 QE 862 .D5 M37

  15. Dissecting Call Numbers • The bottom line is often the year of publication. Shelve these in chronological order: 1985, 1991, 1992, 2006... • The bottom line may also be a volume or copy number. Lower volume (or copy) numbers are shelved to the left of higher volume (or copy) numbers. v.1, v.2, v.3 … c.1, c.2, c.3 … LB 2395 .C65 1991 LB 2395 .C65 1991 v.3

  16. In Correct Order B 123 .J6 1993 B 123 .J6 1998 B 123 .J6 1998 Guide B 123 .J6 2000 v.1 B 123 .J6 2000 v.2 B 123 .J6 U3 1993 Now let’s see if you’ve been paying attention…

  17. In Correct Order KF 884 .A72 1999 KF 8840 .A72 1999 KF 8840 .F72 1999 KF 8840 .F72 1999 v.2 KF 8840 .F72 P36 1999 KFI 8840 .F72 1999 Here’s one more, for good measure….

  18. In Correct Order QE 787 .C59 C66 2002 QE 787 .C59 S27 QE 862 .B5 L6 c.2 QE 862 .D5 L457 QE 862 .D5 M37 1999 QL 84.4 .E8 B62 1990 Lest you think you knew it all now…

  19. Location Prefixes • Some call numbers are preceded by a location prefix. The function of a call number prefix is to designate a special location for the material, different from the shelves of books with similar call numbers. The REF prefix indicates that this book is shelved in the Reference Collection. • Some common prefixes are: REF = Reference CURR = Curriculum VHS = Video DVD = DVD REF LB 2395 .C65 1991

  20. Questions? If you ever have questions about how or where something should be shelved, be sure to ASK!! Remember that a mis-shelved item is as good as lost!

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