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How to Read LC Call Numbers
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Books and other materials are arranged in the library according to subject and are shelved by call number.
You may already know the Dewey Decimal system, but the BSC Library uses the Library of Congress Classification System (often called “LC”). Each item has a uniquecall number.
Understanding and Using Call Numbers
Understanding the Library of Congress system and how to use it will make you a more effective library user.
Library of Congress Classification SystemBelow are the main classes of the Library of Congress Classification. To see a detailed outline of the subclasses go tohttp://www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/lcco/lcco.html
A -- General Works L -- Education
B -- Philosophy, Psychology, Religion
M -- Music and books on music
C -- Auxiliary Sciences of History N -- Fine Arts
D -- History (general) & History of Europe
P -- Language & Literature
E -- History: America Q -- Science
F -- History: America R -- Medicine
G -- Geography, Anthropology, & Recreation
S -- Agriculture
H -- Social Sciences T -- Technology
J -- Political Sciences U -- Military Science
K -- Law Z -- Bibliography, Library Science, & Information Resources
BR535.R4371985
You will see call numbers written different ways.
Typically, call numbers appear on the spines of books and are read vertically.
How do you read call numbers?
In bibliographies and in online catalogs, call numbers are usually written in one line. Here is an example from the BSC Online catalog:
BR 535 .R437 1985
The first part, 1 or 2 letters, represents the subject of the item.B is the LC classification that includes religion, and within that, BR is the classification for “Christianity”
Read the first line in alphabetical order:A, B, BF, BR,. . . C. . . L, LA. . .M. . .
So, “BR” is shelved after “BF” and before “BT”.
BR535.R4371985
Parts of a Call Number
The second part explains the subject further: 535 narrows “Christianity” by “history” and then by “region or country.”In this case, BR 535 refers to the history of Christianity in the American South.
Read the second line as a whole number:1, 2, 3, 45, 100.25, 101, 1542, 2000, etc.
In this example, “BR 535” will be located after “BR 530.7" and before “BR 540”.
BR535.R4371985
Parts of a Call Number
The third part (and sometimes a fourth) combines letters and numbers. It identifies the title or sometimes the author.
Read the letter alphabetically and the number as a decimal. Imagine that there is an “invisible” decimal point between the letter and the number.
.A2, . . .B42, .B425, .B55. . .H 352, .H49
.B425 = .425 .B55 = .55
So, on the shelves you would find:
BR535.R4371985
Parts of a Call Number
BR 535 .R437 1985
BR 535 .R44 1983
on the shelf before
BR535.R4371985
The last line of the call number represents the year the item was published. Read this line in chronological order.
1982, 1985. . . 1999, 2000. . .
Note: Not all call numbers include a year of publication,but most newer items will.
Parts of a Call Number
BA1.D15
BR534.15.D21988
BR534.6.M291993
BR535.R4371985
BR535.R441983
BS650.S22000
BT5.B321952
BT5.B321995
B1.D151990
The following books are in call number order as they would appear on the shelves.
Take a look at each line:
B before BR 534.15 before 534.6
.R437 before .R44 1952 before 1995
If you have any questions about call numbers or finding material in the BSC Library be sure to ask at any service desk.
Send your Reference questions to [email protected]
This information was adapted from the Honolulu Community College web site, written by Nadine Leong-Kurio.
http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/legacylib/callno.html
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