Call Numbers
Understanding how to use Call Numbers will increase your efficiency in collecting the print books that you need for your studies
Within the Barr Smith Library Main Collection (and other collections), print books and journals are arranged by their call numbers. Each printed book and journal has a different call number. A call number has two main parts. The classification number and the Cutter number. Always write down both parts. Some books will also have edition numbers.
For example, the call number 612 T712p.13 consists of:
612 |
A (Dewey Decimal Classification) number for the subject - in this case 612 for the subject Human Physiology |
T712p |
An (Cutter) alphanumeric code for the author and first significant title word- Tortora principles of anatomy and physiology |
.13 |
In this case, the .13 indicates the 13th edition |
Call numbers are arranged on the shelves firstly by the Dewey number (e.g. 612).
Within that Dewey number, Cutter numbers are arranged alphabetically (e.g. the letter T) then numerically (e.g. 712). Cutter numbers are decimal e.g. 712 files before 8 (as though it is .712 before .80).
Copy Numbers
When there is more than one copy of the same edition of a particular book, the copies are individually numbered.
Often copy 1 of a particular book will not have a copy number included in the call number, but subsequent copies will be labelled c2, c3, c4 etc.
Microform and Joint Library Store numbers
Items held in the Microform collection and the Joint Library Store may have microform numbers (e.g. MICROFICHE PER 86) and Joint Library Store numbers (e.g. XM31610) instead of call numbers on the Library Search record.
Although call numbers group books on the same subject together on the library shelves, it's always better to find books on a particular subject by using Library Search.
You'll learn how to do this later in this tutorial.
You should now know
How to identify the call number of an individual book
How to find a book on the shelves
Go to the next section of the tutorial Searching by Author or Editor
Back to the previous section of the tutorial called Book Locations
Back to the tutorial Table of Contents
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