Download Library of Congress Classification System

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Library of Congress Classification System
The Library, and most other college libraries, arrange materials using the Library of Congress (LC)
system. The Library of Congress classification system organizes books and other library materials by
subject, to make it easier for you to browse the shelves for materials on a specific topic. Library of
Congress call numbers always begin with letters of the alphabet. The letters identify the subject of the
work. For example, the letter P at the beginning of a call number indicates that the subject of the work is
language or literature.
The call number also functions as a location code. You will find it taped to the bottom of the spine of
each book. It also appears in the library's computer catalog as part of the catalog entry representing the
physical item.
Call Numbers
Each book is assigned a call number designating both its subject and its place on the shelf. This call
number usually has three parts. The first part is one or two letters for the broad subject area. The
second part is numbers and is a further subdivision of the general subject. The third part is a letter and
number code for the author's name. Here are some examples and what they mean:
This call number is for the book: Harwood's Control of Electrical Motors
TK = electrical engineering; 2851 = motors, generators; .H3 = Harwood (author).
This call number is for the book: The New Husbands & How to Become One HQ = family, marriage;
756= fathers, husbands; D76 = Dubrin (author)
The call number appears on the spine of the book written vertically:
TK
2851
.H3
In the card catalog, however, the number would appear TK 2851 .83. There is no need to memorize this
classification scheme. You only need to write down the complete call number listed in the catalog to be
able to find the book on the shelf.
Shelving
Books are shelved alphabetically by first letter of the first line of the call number, then by the second
letter, if any.
In the example below, book 1 comes before book 2 because plain B comes before BF.
Book 2 comes before book 3 because BF precedes, alphabetically, BT.
Second lines are arranged as whole numbers with book 4 coming before book 5 because 541 comes
before 964.
The third line is a decimal so that book 5 would be shelved before book 6 because .A42 comes before
.A7.
Book 1
B
792
.T51
Book 2
BF
198
.S2
Special Collections
Book 3
BT
1003
.M49
Book4
HV
541
.P2
Book 5
HV
964
.A42
Book 6
HV
964
.A7
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Additional locators can be added to the beginning of any call number. They change the location of the
book in the library. Example: R HD 31.N2: This call number now says that this book is shelved in the
Reference Section. Special locations are indicated by the following prefixes:
R -- Reference collection
V – Video
J – Juvenile (Children’s collection)
I – Current Issues (After the Reference collection)
E – Career Center (south end of the building)
P – Professional
U – Curriculum (Education materials)
M – Multimedia
C – Cassette
GENERAL OUTLINE OF LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CLASSIFICATION
Use this general outline to browse the collection and become familiar with the arrangement. Specific
items and subjects should be located first using the online catalog.
A
General Works
HB-
Economics
QA
Mathematics& Computers
AE
B
BF
BL-BX
Encyclopedias
Philosophy
Psychology
Religion
HJ
HG
HM-HX
HV
Business
Finance
Sociology
Social Problems
QB
QC
QD
QE
Astronomy
Physics
Chemistry
Geology
C-CS
History(general)
J
Political Science
QH
Biology
CR
Heraldry
History Outside
American
JK
United States
QK
Botany
JN
Europe
QL
Zoology
DA
British
JX
International Law
QM
Human Anatomy
DC
DD
DE
DF
DG
DK
DS
DT
DU
E&F
E
F
G
GB
GN
GR
GT
GV
H
HA
French
German
Classical
Greek
Italian
Russian
Asian
African
Oceana
History of Americas
U.S. - General
Other Countries
Geography
Phys. Geography
Anthropology
Folklore
Manners & Customs
Recreation
Social Sciences
Statistics
K
KF
L
M
N
NA
NB
NC
ND
NE
NK
P-PG
PE
PN
PN-PZ
PQ
PR
PS
PZ
Q
Law
United States
Education
Music
Fine Arts
Architecture
Sculpture
Graphic Arts
Painting
Printmaking
Handicrafts
Languages
English
Journalism
Literature
Romance
English
American
Misc. Fiction
Science
QP
QR
R
RK
RT
D:
Physiology
Microbiology
Medicine
Dentistry
Nursing
Agriculture & Natural
S
Resources
T
Technology
TA-TH Civil Engineering
TJ
Mechanical
TK
Electrical
TL
Automotive
TN-TP Chemical
TR
Photography
TT
Crafts
TX
Home Economics & Food
U
Military Science
V
Naval Science
Bibliographies & Library
Z
Secretarial Science