Understanding
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
Note that the
same call number can be written from
top-to-bottom, or left-to-right.
Chabot Library,
like many academic libraries in the U.S., 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
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.
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. For
example:
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.
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.
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