WEEK 1

Part 1

ARRANGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION

Books are cataloged and shelved under the Library of Congress Classification system.  Each book receives an alphanumeric code designation on its spine that indicates its subject, location, and author, and  usually its publication date.  The first two-letter designation indicates a subject. For example, all books that begin with the call number GN are books about anthropology.

The call number for the book What the Bones Tell Us is GN50.6 S39 A3 1993. The G and N are the classification letters, which indicate that the subject of the book is anthropology.  (The 50.6 is the classification number, a shelf designation that places the book near other books about forensic anthropology. The S39 is the Cutter number, a code that usually begins with the first letter of the author's last name. The A3 indicates additional subject information. 1993 is the publication year.  The publication date is sometimes excluded from the call number.)

One of the purposes of this code is to ensure that books on a subject are shelved side by side.

Locations of Books

When you perform a search in the library catalog, you will see that in addition to the call number, you will be provided with a collection location.
Main collection- Levels 3 and 4 - books starting with call numbers A-L are on the third floor.
                                                      books starting with call numbers M-Z are on the fourth floor.

Audio Collection - Level 2 - Audio visual room

Atlases - Level 1 - case

 Big Books - Level 4 - second and third rows east

California Documents - Level 1

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