AN INTRODUCTION TO UNDERSTANDING LIBRARY CALL NUMBERS

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Each material in the library has its own unique call number.

It appears in the library’s on-line catalog.

Understanding the Call Numbers and the Classification System will make it easier for you to retrieve Library materials.

The call number is also attached to the spine of the book.

It is like an address that tells you where the library material is located.

It also provides the information such as the subject, First letter of the author’s last name and the year of publication.

In the Bertha Smith Library the call numbers are assigned according to the Library of Congress Classification System.

It is an alphanumeric system consisting of both letters and numbers.

In this Classification System materials are broken down into twenty-one general subject areas. Each Subject area is represented by a letter.

A - General Works B - Philosophy, Psychology, Religion C - Auxiliary Sciences of History D - History: General and outside the Americas E - History: United States F - History: United States Local and America G - Geography H - Social Sciences J - Political Science K - Law

X (non-LC) - Non Common Law

L - Education M - Music N - Fine Arts P - Language and Literature Q - Science R - Medicine S - Agriculture T - Technology U - Military Science V - Naval Science Z - Library Science

These 21 subject areas are further divided into sub-categories. For an example, see the sub-categories under Philosophy, psychology and religion

Sub-categories in B: Philosophy, psychology and religion

B - History and Systems of PhilosophyBC - LogicBD - Speculative PhilosophyBF - PsychologyBH - AestheticsBJ - EthicsBL - Religions, Mythology, RationalismBM - JudaismBP - Islam, Bahaism, TheosophyBQ - BuddhismBR - Christianity (General)BS - The BibleBT - Doctrinal TheologyBV - Practical TheologyBX - Denominations and Sects

The sub-categories are further divided

into several subdivision of

subjects. These subdivisions are represented by

numbers.

BS 1-2970 - The BibleBS 11-115 - Early versionsBS 125-355 - Modern texts and versionsBS 125-198 - EnglishBS 199-313 - Other European languagesBS 315-355 - Non-European languagesBS 315 - Asian languagesBS 325 - African languagesBS 335 - Languages of Oceania and AustralasiaBS 345 - American Indian languagesBS 350 - Mixed languagesBS 355 - Artificial languagesBS 410 - 680 Works about the BibleBS 500-534.8 Criticism and interpretation

Every LC call number begins with one to three letters. E.g.:

B BT

121 966.2

.K56 .G7

1970 1986

First Line: The first line of call numbers describes the general subject area. In the example below, the letters “ BT” represent Doctrinal Theology. If you are looking for books on Doctrinal Theology, you will find them in “BT” section.

Second Line: The second number line represents the narrow subject area. Read it as a whole number. The Specific Number 966.2 in BT represents theology relating to angels.

Third Line: The next number is called the cutter number. The Letter-number usually indicates the author. Smith could be .S6. Graham could be .G7

The last if number, if present, is the year of Publication.

When you are looking for an item, always start with the top line of the call number.

Items are arranged alphabetically. All BR numbers are together, after BP and before BS, and all B’s come after all combinations of A and before all combinations of C.

Congratulations! You’ve completed the Bertha Smith LC Call Numbers tutorial. If you have any further questions, you can send questions to library@lru.edu or call 770-484-1204 ext. 263.