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What are Call Numbers
Most items in the collection are arranged by subject. Each item is assigned a unique call number that indicates not only where the item is located but provides other valuable information about the item as well. Items about the same subject have similar call numbers. Therefore, they are grouped together on the shelf. This makes it easier for users to browse items on a particular topic.
Location Prefix
Some call numbers are preceded by a location prefix. A location prefix means that the item belongs to a specific collection, is shelved in a special place, and may have circulation restrictions. For example, in the call number, Ref AG243 .G87 1992 , the Ref prefix indicates that the item is shelved in the Reference Collection. Items in the Reference Collection do not circulate.
Library of Congress (LC) Call Numbers
LC call numbers always begin with a letter of the alphabet that identifies the main class or subject of the item. LC main classes and their corresponding letters in the alphabet are listed below:
- A: General Works
- B: Philosophy, Psychology, & Religion
- C: Auxiliary Sciences of History
- D: History - General & Old World
- E: History - American & North American
- F: History - U.S. & South American
- G: Geography, Anthropology, & Recreation
- H: Social Sciences
- J: Political Science
- K: Law
- L: Education
- M: Music
- N: Fine Arts
- P: Language & Literature
- Q: Sciences
- R: Medicine
- S: Agriculture
- T: Technology
- U: Military Science
- V: Naval Science
- Z: History of Books, Library Science, & Bibliography
See the Library of Congress for a complete list of main classes and their subclasses.
How to Read LC Call Numbers
Subclasses of the LC main classes are represented by a second letter. The first D in the call number indicates that the book is a work of history. The second D indicates that it is a work of German history. LC call numbers are read line-by-line as explained in the following table. |
|
Line Number |
Part |
How to Read |
Represents |
1 |
First letter |
In alphabetical order
A, B, C, D, etc. |
Main class |
| Second letter |
In alphabetical order
BA, BB, BC,BD, etc. |
Subclass |
2 |
Number |
As a whole number.
1, 2, 3, 45, 534, 2000, 2500, etc. |
Further subclasses |
3 |
Letter |
In alphabetical order
.C, .D, .E, etc. |
Author's last name |
| Decimal |
Number-by-number
.C22, .C34, .C35, .C357, etc. |
|
4 |
Date |
In chronological order
1995, 1998, 2000, etc. |
Date published |
| Volume |
In numerical order
1, 2, 3, 4, etc. |
Volume published |
|
LC Call Number Shelf Order
LA before
LB |
2327 before 2328 |
. B before
.C5 |
. 554 before
.63 |
1987 before
1991 |
LA
2301
. M37 |
LB
2327
. M3 |
LB
2327
. P35 |
LB
2328
. B3 |
LB
2328
. B34 |
LB
2328
. C55 |
LB
2328
. C554
1982 |
LB
2328
. C63
1992 |
LB
2395
. C65
1987 |
LB
2395
. C65
1991 |
|
. M before
.P |
. 3 before
.34 |
. 55 before
.554 |
2328 before
2395 |
|
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How to Read DD Call Numbers
Subclasses of the DD main classes are represented by variations in the main class numbers and in the numbers following the decimal point. All numbers following the decimal are read number-by-number. Any letters are read in alphabetical order. Additional numbers following the letters are also read number-by-number. |
|
DD Call Number Shelf Order
856 before
976 |
72 before
747 |
.306 before
.4 |
856.475
B25 |
976.306
T54 |
976.306
W 72 |
976.306
W747 |
976.306
W75 |
976.4
Y75 |
|
T before
W |
747 before
75 |
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