Let’s Learn About
Call Numbers
Remember, a call number is like the book’s address in the library. It tells where the book lives on the library shelf.
Our library has three kinds of books, so we have three kinds of call numbers:
fiction easy fiction nonfiction
Today we’re going to learn the recipe for making all three kinds of call numbers.
A fiction call number is made up of two parts: F (for fiction)
first three letters in the author’s last name
So a fiction call number for the author, Beverly Cleary would look like this:
F Cle
What would the fiction call number for the author, Matt Christopher look like?
F Chr
An easy fiction call number is made up of two parts:
E
(for easy fiction)
first three letters in the author’s last name
So an easy fiction call number for the author, Jan Brett would look like this:
E Bre
What would the easy fiction call number for the author, Peggy Parish look like?
E Par
How do we put fiction and easy fiction call numbers in order? Think……How can we put letters in order? That’s right, fiction and easy fiction call numbers are in
ABC order.
Nonfiction call numbers are made up of two parts:
Numbers
(for the subject)
first three letters in the author’s last name
So a nonfiction call number for a mammal book by Jane Mosley would look like this:
599 Mos
How do we put nonfiction call numbers in order? Think...nonfiction call numbers have numbers and letters, so.. Nonfiction call numbers are put in number order first,
then in ABC order.
One kind of nonfiction book has a different recipe from the rest.
biography
What is a biography? A book about the life of a famous person. Biography call numbers have their own special recipe.
Biography call numbers are made up of two parts.
92
(the number for biography)
first three letters of the famous person’s last name
So the call number a biography about George Washington would look like this:
for
92 Was
What would the call number for a biography about Troy Aikman look like?
92 Aik
How are biography call numbers put in order?
Since all biography call numbers have a 92, they are put in ABC order.
Let’s see if you can tell what kind of book goes with each call number !!
E Car
easy fiction
567.9 Ber
nonfiction
92 Lin
biography
E Mcd
easy fiction
F Gif
fiction
796
Bon
nonfiction
F Par
fiction
92
Edi
biography