Understanding the Library of
Congress Classification
or
How to find the Book on the Shelf
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
like this, on the spines of books:
LB
2395
.C65
1991
and,
like this, in
the online catalog:
LB2395
.C65 1991
Read a call number by sections, line-by-line.
example:
LB
2395
.C65
1991
LB
-- Read the first line in alphabetical order:
A, B, BF, C, D
... L, LA, LB, LC, M, ML ...
2395 -- Read the
second line as a whole number:
1, 2, 3, ...45,
...100, 101, ... 1000, ... 2000, ...2430, 2431, 2432
.C65 -- The
third line is a combination of a letter and numbers.
Read the letter alphabetically: A, B, C, D, E, ... Y, Z
Read the letter as a decimal.
e.g. .C65 = .65
e.g. .C724 = .724
1991 -- This is
the year the book was published.
Chronological
order: 1979, 1985, 1991, 1992 ...
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. Which letters represent your subject?
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| Collin County Community College |
Linda Andrews |