Understanding Call
Numbers
Books are shelved alphabetically by call
number.
Call numbers starting with:*
*Books selected for Recreational
Reading are on the 2nd
Floor.
Lemieux Library uses the Library of Congress (LC)
system to catalog items. This means that all call numbers begin
with a letter that represents the subject of the book. If you are
looking for a subject area to browse
instead of a specific item, click here to
learn the subject disciplines and their locations.
Search the Library's catalog to find an item's call
number:
| In Catalog |
On Spine |
How to Read Each Line* |
QL337.U35N4
1971B
Uganda quest: African wildlife after dark
Neal, Ernest G.
1 copies available at LEMIEUX
in ONSHELF |
QL |
Alphabetically |
| 337 |
Numerically |
| .U35 |
Letter
- alphabetically; Number - as a decimal |
| N4 |
| 1971 |
This
is extra info that includes: dates, issue numbers, copy numbers,
etc. These are read after the call number. |
| B |
*Call numbers vary in length; some aren't
larger than the first line, in which case just read the lines that
are there.
| |
The first line
of a call number lists 1 - 3 letters. These should be read
alphabetically. Single letters come before doubles, and so
on. For example, you would find QL filed after Q but before
QS. |
| |
The second line is
read in numerical order. |
QL
337
.T2 |
QL
337
.U35 |
QL
337
.U41 |
|
In the third line,
the letter is read alphabetically first. The number after it
is treated as a decimal. |
QL
337
.U35
N399 |
QL
337
.U35
N4 |
QL
337
.U35
N66 |
|
The
fourth line is treated the same as the third.
Note: Even if there is no decimal point, this line is still
read as stated. |
QL
337
.U35
N4
1968
|
QL
337
.U35
N4
1971
A |
QL
337
.U35
N4
1971
B |
|
Some call numbers
include the year the item was published, the volume number,
the copy number, etc. These are all arranged in ascending order. |
Browsing
a Subject Area
QL337.U35N4 1971B
Uganda quest: African wildlife after dark
Neal, Ernest G.
1 copies available at LEMIEUX in ONSHELF
The beginning letters of a call number represent the
subject of the item. The first letter stands for a general subject,
and if there are other letters following, those indicate the subject
branch.
Below is a listing of all the general subjects represented:
| A |
General Works |
M |
Music |
| B |
Philosophy, Psychology, Religion |
N |
Fine Arts |
| C |
History of Civilization |
P |
Languages & Literature |
| D |
Foreign History & Topography |
Q |
Science |
| E |
American History |
R |
Medicine |
| F |
Local American, Latin American History |
S |
Agriculture |
| G |
Geography, Anthropology, Recreation |
T |
Technology |
| H |
Social Sciences |
U |
Military Science |
| J |
Political Science |
V |
Naval Science |
| K |
Law |
Z |
Bibliography, Library Science |
| L |
Education |
|
|
Adding another letter makes the classification more
specific:
| Q Science |
| QA |
Mathematics |
QK |
Botany |
| QB |
Astronomy |
QL |
Zoology |
| QC |
Physics |
QM |
Human Anatomy |
| QD |
Chemistry |
QP |
Physiology |
| QE |
Geology |
QR |
Microbiology |
| QH |
Natural History |
|
|
The sample call number
QL337.U35N4 1971B shows that this book
has to do with Zoology. Where are the subject
areas?
|
