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Understanding Call Numbers
What are call numbers for?
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
Note that
the same call number can be written from
top-to-bottom, or left-to-right.
MC Speed
Library, like some other academic libraries in the U.S.,
uses Dewey Decimal Classification for call numbers.
This system uses numbers to arrange materials by subjects.
Reading Call Numbers
Putting Call Numbers in Shelf Order
To
understand how call numbers are put in order in Dewey
Decimal Classification, again look at each section of the
call number.
What does the call number mean?
Remember that Dewey Decimal Classification arranges
materials by subjects. The first sections of the call number
represent the subject of the book. The letter-and-number
section of the call number often represents the author's
last name. And, as you probably recall, the last section of
a call number is often the date of publication.
For
example:
Why
is this important to know?
Because books are classified by subject, you can often find
several helpful books on the same shelf, or nearby. For
example, within the same call number 595.789, there are
other books about butterflies or similar topics.
Since
Dewey Decimal Classification arranges materials by subjects,
knowing the number(s) for your subject area gives you a
place to start browsing the shelves. |
