La Sierra University Library
Understanding Library of Congress Call Numbers
Have you ever wondered how books in the La Sierra University Library are assigned their places on the shelves?
Did you know that the call number, the number placed on the spine of the book, is a code that provides valuable
information about the book?
What are call numbers for?
Each book in the Library has a unique call number. A call number is like an address in that it tells you
where the book is located in the Library.
Call numbers appear...
on the spine of the book in the Online Catalog
LB
2395
LB2395 .C65 1991
.C65
1991
Reading call numbers:
Our Library, like many academic libraries in the United States, uses the Library of Congress classification
system for call numbers. This system uses a combination of letters and numbers to arrange materials by
subject.
LB Read the first line in alphabetical order
2395 Read the second line as a whole number
.C65 Read the third line first alphabetically, then as a decimal number
1991 This is the year that the book was published
What does the call number mean?
The Library of Congress classification system arranges materials by subject. The first sections of the call
number represent the subject of the book. The letter and decimal section of the call number represent the
author's last name. The last section is the year the book was published, but not all books will have this
included in the call number.
Putting call numbers in shelf order:
This diagram should help you understand how to find your book on the shelf after you have gotten the call
number.
L before LA LA before LB 2395 before 2396 .C645 before .C65 1991 before 1992
L LA LA LB LB LB LB LB LB LB
903 11 2899 2395 2395 2396 2395 2395 2395 2395
C2 B53 P87 C65 C65 A771 C645 C65 C65 C65
1989 1991 1991 1987 1993 1991 1991 1992
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LC Classification Summary
A General Works (Encyclopedias, etc.) PQ Romance Literature
B-BJ Philosophy & Psychology PR English Literature
BL-BQ World Religions PS American Literature
BR-BX Christianity PT Germanic Literature
C History (Civilization) Q Science (General)
D History (except America) QA Mathematics & Computing
E American History QB Astronomy
F Local American, Latin American History QC Physics
G-GT Geography & Anthropology QD Chemistry
GV Physical Education QE Geology
H-HJ Economics & Business QH Biology
HM-HX Sociology QK Botany
J Political Science QL Zoology
K Law QM Human Anatomy
L Education QP Physiology
M Music QR Microbiology
N Fine Arts R Medicine
P Linguistics S Agriculture
PC Romance Languages T Technology
PD Germanic Languages U Military Science
PE English Language V Naval Science
PL Languages & Literature of Z Bibliography, Library Science
East Asia, Africa, & Oceania
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