Otis College LibGuides: Information Literacy: Call Numbers

Call Numbers

Every book in the library has a unique "call number." They act like an address, indicating where the book is located in the library.

Like most academic libraries (i.e., libraries at colleges and universities), we use the Library of Congress (LC) classification system. It is an alpha-numeric system for arranging books according to their subject. The letters and numbers relate to specific topics, like particular artists, authors, media, and places.

Breakdown of LC Elements

Sample Call Number: TR654 S559 2017

TR	First Letter(s). The first element of a call number is a letter or pair of letters. This indicates the class (or subject area) of the item. If there is a second or third letter, this indicates that the item relates to a specific subclass of the broader subject. Here, we have TR = Photography, a subclass of T = Technology.
654	First Number. This number can range between 1-9000. Sometimes, it includes a decimal.
S559	Cutter Number. This is a pairing of a letter with a number. Read these numbers as decimals. Sometimes, there are multiple cutter numbers.
2017	Publication Year. The final element is the year the item was published. It doesn't need to be read as a decimal.

Primary LC Classes

A -- General Works	H -- Social Sciences	Q -- Science
B -- Philosophy. Psychology. Religion	J -- Political Science	R -- Medicine
C -- Auxiliary Sciences of History	K -- Law	S -- Agriculture
D -- Global History and History of Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, etc. (this includes Travel)	L -- Education	T -- Technology
E -- History of the Americas	M -- Music	U -- Military
F -- History of the Americas	N -- Fine Arts	V -- Naval Science
G -- Geography	P -- Language and Literature	Z -- Bibliography. Library Science. Information Resources (General)

See our Call Number Subject Guide for a more in-depth look at subclasses and the subjects that appear frequently in our collection.

Call Numbers in OwlCat

When you find a print book in our catalog that you'd like to view in person, write down or take a picture of the call number (listed as "Call No."). Make sure it's recorded accurately and not missing any elements.

Also, be sure to look at the "Location" and "Status" of the item; some books are shelved outside of the stacks, and sometimes they have already been checked out. See here for more information on Library Locations and other circumstances.

Below: The Location, Call Number, and Status of a book in catalog search results.

Below: Locating the Location, Call Number, and Status of a book in the item's record. This may look different depending on the device you're using, but the information should at least be at the very bottom of the record.

Locating a Book on the Shelf

Call numbers are printed on labels affixed to an item's spine. Sometimes, they are embossed or written directly onto the book. If the spine is too small to label, the call number may appear on a corner of the cover.
Items are arranged from left to right on each shelf, from top shelf to bottom shelf.
Call numbers are arranged alphabetically. Use the signs on the sides of the aisles to find the class you are looking for (i.e., first letter or pair of letters).
The class should be accompanied by a number. Find this number within the class. These numbers range from 1-9000 and sometimes include a decimal.
Cutter numbers follow the initial letter-number pairing. These are also arranged alphabetically. However, these numbers should always be read as decimals (e.g., P67 is between P6 and P8).
Continue this process through each element (i.e., number-letter pairing) to find the specific book.
The final piece of the call number is the publication year.
If you decide not to borrow the book, leave it on one of the carts at the end of the aisles rather than putting it back on the shelf.
Please ask our library staff for assistance if you need it!

Below: Example of N-class books arranged in call number order.

Library Locations and Special Circumstances

Most of our print collection exists in our main stacks; these are the shelves that cut through the center of the library.

Check the call number carefully. Some are preceded by words such as "Oversize," "Ref." or "Sp.Coll." These indicate that the item is shelved in an area separate from our main stacks.

Oversize = Oversize items are on the shelves at the very end of the stacks, in the southwest corner
Ref. = Reference collection; this is housed by the entrance to the library
Sp.Coll. = Special Collections (not browsable)

Reserve items are available to borrow at the Circulation Desk. These are in-library use only, as they pertain to certain courses being taught.

Library Map

View larger version