Using Call Numbers

To find the book you want in this Library, you need to know the book's CALL NUMBER. Call numbers can be found in the library catalog. Every book has a label on the spine with this special number. It usually looks like this:

R	the first two lines tell you about the subject of the book
733
W44	this is usually the first letter of the author's last name
1996	this tells you the date of the book was published

Step #1: Write Down That Call Number

Then look at the first letter (or letters) Write down the call number of your book. Read the first letter of your book's call number, then read the second letter, if there is one. In the example above, you first want to find out where "R" section is downstairs on the shelf. When you go downstairs, the letters A-JC are to your right. Letters JC-QK are to your left. The letters QL-Z and oversize books (OV) are on the shelves right in front of you. For example,

R	comes before	RA	which comes before	RM
16		7		23
C89		W56		E9

Step #2: Read the Number Below It

Next, look at the number below this letter. In the first example, that would be "733". On the shelves books are first put in order by letter, then are in number order (R1, R2, R3, .... R100 .... R733, for example).

R	comes before	R
733		2000
W56		P43

Step #3: Read the Last Part as a Decimal

Now read the last part of the call number. Here, the arrangement is also alphabetical but the number is read as a decimal (.62 and .7).

RA	comes before	RA
121		121
C62		C7

The last four digits is the publication year, so you note quickly how old or recent the book is!