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Call Numbers – What They Are & How to Use Them

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  • Call Numbers – What They Are & How to Use Them

     

    A call number is the address of an item on the library shelves. The Eliot D. Pratt Library uses the Library of Congress Classification System (LC) for its collections. LC is subject-based, arranging items by their primary subject.

    While there are always some exceptions to the rules, this tutorial will cover what you’re seeing most of the time. Remember, you can always ask the library staff for help understanding or finding items on the shelf.

    Here is a brief video on call numbers:

    This video was not made by us, so the online catalog and specific locations are different than what you will see, but the basic idea is the same.

    Reading Call Numbers – Line by Line

    The First Line – General Subject by Letters

    LC is broken into 21 general subjects represented by letters. This allows libraries to classify and arrange larger collections by the main subject matter of the text.

    A – General Works
    B – Philosophy, Psychology, Religion
    C – Auxiliary sciences of history
    D – World History
    E–F – History of the Americas
    G – Geography, Anthropology, Recreation
    H – Social Sciences
    J – Political Science
    K – Law
    L – Education
    M – Music and Books on Music
    N – Fine Arts
    P – Language and Literature
    Q – Science
    R – Medicine
    S – Agriculture
    T – Technology
    U – Military Science
    V – Naval Science
    Z – Bibliography. Library Science

    LC then breaks into more specific subjects by the addition of 1-2 letters. For the most common LC subject breakdowns, see the list at the bottom of this page or the posters at the end of the stacks in the library.

    These are read in alphabetical order, where L comes before LA, which comes before LC, which all comes before M.

    The Second Line – Specific Subject by Numbers

    LC is hierarchical, using numbers up to four digits in length (1-9999), sometimes with several decimal places, to drill down to the most specific subject. For example:

      • LC call numbers beginning with L deal with Education
      • LC call numbers beginning with LB deal with Theory & Practice of Education
      • LC call numbers in the LB 51-885 range deal with Systems of Individual Educators & Writers
      • LC call numbers in the LB 880-885 range deal with the period 1951-present
      • LC call numbers in LB 880 deal with Educators Outside the US
      • The LC call number for Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paolo Freire is: LB880.F73 P4313 2002

    These are read in simple numerical order, where 7 comes before 70, which comes before 700, which comes before 7000.

    The Third Line – Author coded by Letters & Numbers

    LC always includes a code representing the author. This part of the call number begins with a decimal and the first letter of the author’s surname followed by numbers representing some of the subsequent letters, for example:

      • Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paolo Freire is: LB880.F73 P4313 2002

    These are read first in alphabetical and then in decimal order, where .O9615 comes before .P9615 and where .P9615comes before .P962

    The Fourth Line – Title coded by Letters & Numbers

    LC sometimes includes a code representing the title, especially in areas where there may be many titles by the same author. This part of the call number begins with the first letter of the title – excluding A, An, The, etc. – followed by numbers representing some of the subsequent letters, for example:

      • Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paolo Freire is: LB880.F73 P4313 2002

    These are read first in alphabetical and then in decimal order (even though the decimal is usually not present), where O9615 comes before P9615 and where P9615 comes before P962

    The Fifth Line – Year of Publication

    LC usually includes a year of publication. This is almost always present on newer titles, but sometimes absent on older materials

      • Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paolo Freire is: LB880.F73 P4313 2002

    These are read by oldest to newest, where LB880.F73 P4313 comes before LB880.F73 P4313 1993, which comes before LB880.F73 P4313 2002

    Other Lines – Locations, copies, volumes, etc.

    Information that precedes the LC Call Number is included by the library to help you find what you’re looking for when items are not shelved in the main collection with the bulk of our print books. For instance, we’ll add something like DVD before the call number if it’s a video or REF if it’s a Reference item.

    Information that follows the LC Call Number can vary. It may be volume, issue, or copy number to let you find the exact item you’re looking for without having to pull it off the shelf. It may also be location information, like Special Collection, to let you know it’s not shelved with the main collection.

    Reading Call Numbers – All Together Now!

    Call numbers are read from left to right and from top to bottom. In the catalog, a call number is written out all on one line but on the item it is displayed in a column, as below. This is so it will fit on the item’s spine whenever possible and be visible when shelved. This is called a spine label. Call numbers are read the same way whether they’re all on one line or in a column. For example:

    One line, as in the catalog: LB880.F73 P4313 2002

    In a column, as on a spine label:

    LB
    880
    .F73
    P4313
    2002
    REF
    LB
    880
    .F73
    P4313
    2002
    LB
    880
    .F73
    P4313
    2002
    copy 5

    Always remember to note the location and availability of an item before you go looking for it. If an item is checked out, missing, or on display, the catalog will tell you so under the item record.

    Library of Congress Classification System

    This is a basic outline of the LC General Subjects. For a more specific list, check out the Library of Congress Classification Outline. This may be helpful in cases where further breakdown of subjects, for instance by time period, is not obvious and you want to be able to browse more efficiently.

    Primary Class:
    A | B | C | D | E-F | G | H | J | K | L | M |
    N | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | Z |

    -A-

    General Works

    ACCollections. Series. Collected Works
    AEEncyclopedias
    AGDictionaries and other general reference works
    AIIndexes
    AMMuseums. Collectors and collecting
    ANNewspapers
    APPeriodicals
    ASAcademics and learned societies
    AYYearbooks. Almanacs. Directories
    AZHistory of scholarship and learning. The humanities
    Top

    -B-

    Philosophy, Psychology, Religion

    BPhilosophy (General)
    BCLogic
    BDSpeculative philosophy
    BFPsychology
    BHAesthetics
    BJEthics
    BLReligions. Mythology. Rationalism
    BMJudaism
    BPIslam. Bahaism. Theosophy, etc.
    BQBuddhism
    BRChristianity
    BSThe Bible
    BTDoctrinal Theology
    BVPractical Theology
    BXChristian Denominations
    Top

    -C-

    Auxiliary sciences of History

    CAuxiliary sciences of history (General)
    CBHistory of Civilization
    CCArchaeology
    CDDiplomatics. Archives. Seals
    CETechnical chronology. Calendar
    CJNumismatics
    CNInscriptions. Epigraphy
    CRHeraldry
    CSGenealogy
    CTBiography
    Top

    -D-

    World History

    DHistory
    DAGreat Britain
    DAWCentral Europe
    DBAustria – Liechtenstein – Hungary – Czechoslovakia
    DCFrance – Andorra – Monaco
    DDGermany
    DEGreco-Roman World
    DFGreece
    DGItaly – Malta
    DHLow Countries – Benelux Countries
    DJNetherlands (Holland)
    DJKEastern Europe (General)
    DKRussia. Soviet Union. Former Soviet Republics – Poland
    DLNorthern Europe. Scandinavia
    DPSpain – Portugal
    DQSwitzerland
    DRBalkan Peninsula
    DSAsia
    DTAfrica
    DUOceania (South Seas)
    DXGypsies
    Top

    -E-F-

    History of the Americas

    E 11-143America
    E 151-889United States
    F 1-975United States local history
    F 1001-1145.2British America (including Canada). Dutch America
    F 1170French America
    F 1201-3799Latin America. Spanish America
    Top

    -G-

    Geography, Anthropology, Recreation

    GGeography (General). Atlases. Maps
    GAMathematical geography. Cartography
    GBPhysical geography
    GCOceanography
    GFHuman ecology. Anthropogeography
    GNAnthropology
    GRFolklore
    GTManners and customs (General)
    GVRecreation. Leisure
    Top

    -H-

    Social Sciences

    HSocial Sciences (General)
    HAStatistics
    HBEconomic theory. Demography
    HC-HDEconomic history and conditions
    HETransportation and communications
    HFCommerce
    HGFinance
    HJPublic Finance
    HMSociology (General and Theoretical)
    HNSocial history. Social problems. Social reform
    HQThe family. Marriage. Women
    HSSocieties: Secret, benevolent, etc.
    HTCommunities. Classes. Races.
    HVSocial Pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology
    HXSocialism. Communism. Anarchism
    Top

    -J-

    Political Science

    JGeneral legislative and executive papers
    JAPolitical science (General)
    JCPolitical theory
    JFPolitical institutions and public administration
    JJPolitical institutions and public administration (North America)
    JKPolitical institutions and public administration (United States)
    JLPolitical institutions and public administration (Canada, Latin America, etc.)
    JNPolitical institutions and public administration (Europe)
    JQPolitical institutions and public administration (Asia, Africa, Australia, Pacific Area, etc.)
    JSLocal government. Municipal government
    JVColonies and colonization. Emigration and immigration. International migration
    JX (obsolete)International Law, see JZ and KZ
    JZInternational relations
    Top

    -K-

    Law

    KLaw in general. Comparative and uniform law. Jurisprudence
    KBReligious laws in general. Comparative religious law. Jurisprudence
    KBMJewish law
    KBPIslamic law
    KBRHistory of canon law
    KBSCanon law of Eastern churches
    KBULaw of the Roman Catholic Church. The Holy See
    KD-KDKUnited Kingdom and Ireland
    KDZAmerica. North America
    KECanada
    KFUnited States
    KGLatin America – Mexico and Central America – West indies. Caribbean area
    KHsouth America
    KJ-KKZEurope
    KL-KWXAsia and Eurasia, Africa, Pacific Area, and Antarctica
    KZLaw of nations
    Top

    -L-

    Education

    LEducation (General)
    LAHistory of education
    LBTheory and practice of education
    LCSpecial aspects of education
    LDIndividual institutions – United States
    LEIndividual institutions – America (except United States)
    LFIndividual institutions – Europe
    LGIndividual institutions – Asia, Africa, Indian Ocean islands, Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands
    LHCollege and school magazines and papers
    LJStudent fraternities and societies, United States
    LTTextbooks
    Top

    -M-

    Music and Books on Music

    MMusic
    MLLiterature of music
    MTMusical instruction and study
    Top

    -N-

    Fine Arts

    NVisual Arts
    NAArchitecture
    NBSculpture
    NCDrawing. Design. Illustration
    NDPainting
    NEPrint media
    NKDecorative arts
    NXArts in general
    Top

    -P-

    Language and Literature

    PPhilology. Linguistics
    PAGreek language and literature. Latin language and literature
    PBModern languages. Celtic languages
    PCRomanic languages
    PDGermanic languages. Scandinavian languages
    PEEnglish language
    PFWest Germanic languages
    PGSlavic languages. Baltic languages. Albanian language
    PHUralic languages. Basque language
    PJOriental languages and literatures
    PKIndo-Iranian languages and literatures
    PLLanguages and literatures of Eastern Asia, Africa, Oceania
    PMHyperborean, Indian, and artificial languages
    PNLiterature (General)
    PQFrench literature – Italian literature – Spanish literature – Portugese literature
    PREnglish literature
    PSAmerican literature
    PTGerman literature – Dutch literature – Flemish literature since 1830 Afrikaans literature – Scandinavian literature – Old Norse literature: Old Icelandic and Old Norwegian – Modern Icelandic literature – Faroese literature – Danish literature – Norwegian literature – Swedish literature
    PZFiction and juvenile belles lettres
    Top

    -Q-

    Science

    QScience (General)
    QAMathematics
    QBAstronomy
    QCPhysics
    QDChemistry
    QEGeology
    QHNatural history – Biology
    QKBotany
    QLZoology
    QMHuman anatomy
    QPPhysiology
    QRMicrobiology
    Top

    -R-

    Medicine

    RMedicine (General)
    RAPublic aspects of medicine
    RBPathology
    RCInternal medicine
    RDSurgery
    REOphthalmology
    RFOtorhinolaryngology
    RGGynecology and obstetrics
    RJPediatrics
    RKDentistry
    RLDermatology
    RMTherapeutics. Pharmacology
    RSPharmacy and materia medica
    RTNursing
    RVBotanic, Thomsonian, and eclectic medicine
    RXHomeopathy
    RZOther systems of medicine
    Top

    -S-

    Agriculture

    SAgriculture (General)
    SBPlant culture
    SDForestry
    SFAnimal culture
    SHAquaculture. Fisheries. Angling
    SKHunting sports
    Top

    -T-

    Technology

    TTechnology (General)
    TAEngineering (General). Civil engineering
    TCHydraulic engineering. Ocean engineering
    TDEnvironmental technology. Sanitary engineering
    TEHighway engineering. Roads and pavements
    TFRailroad engineering and operation
    TGBridge engineering
    THBuilding construction
    TJMechanical engineering and machinery
    TKElectrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering
    TLMotor vehicles. Aeronautics. Astronautics
    TNMining engineering. Metallurgy
    TPChemical technology
    TRPhotography
    TSManufactures
    TTHandicrafts. Arts and crafts
    TXHome economics. Cookbooks
    Top

    -U-

    Military Science

    UMilitary science (General)
    UAArmies: Organization, description, military situation
    UBMilitary administration
    UCMaintenance and transportation
    UDInfantry
    UECavalry. Armor
    UFArtillery
    UGMilitary Engineering. Air forces
    UHOther services
    Top

    -V-

    Naval Science

    VNaval science (General)
    VANavies: Organization, description, naval situation
    VBNaval administration
    VCNaval maintenance
    VDNaval seamen
    VEMarines
    VFNaval ordinance
    VGMinor services of the navies
    VKNavigation. Merchant marine
    VMNaval architecture. Shipbuilding. Marine engineering
    Top

    -Z-

    Bibliography. Library Science. Information Resources (General)

    ZBooks (General). Writing. Paleography. Book industries and trade. Libraries. Bibliography
    ZAInformation resources (General)
    Top

     

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