How Books Are Organized at Pellissippi Libraries
Library of Congress (LC) call numbers help organize books by subject so you can easily find what you need. Here's how they work and what the parts mean.
A call number is a unique code assigned to each item in the library. It tells you where the item is located on the shelf and what subject it covers.
Example:
QA76.73 .J38 2020
| Part | Description |
|---|---|
| Letter Line | One to three letters (e.g., QA, PN) that represent the subject area. Filed alphabetically. |
| Whole Number Line | A number that narrows the subject (e.g., 76). Filed numerically. |
| Cutter Line | Begins with a decimal point and includes a letter and numbers (e.g., .J38). Represents author or title. Filed digit by digit. |
| Year | Publication year (e.g., 2020). Helps distinguish editions. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Call Number |
A unique code assigned to each item in the library, based on its subject. |
| Cutter Number | A part of the call number that represents the author or title, filed as a decimal. |
| Stacks | The area of the library where books are shelved. |
| Circulation Desk | The front desk where you check out, return, or ask about library materials. |
| Hold | A request to reserve an item so you can pick it up later. |
| Interlibrary Loan | A service that lets you borrow books or articles from other libraries. |
| Shelving | The process of placing returned items back in their correct location. |
| Catalog | The online system used to search for books, articles, and other materials. |
| Reference Section | A part of the library with materials like encyclopedias that are for in-library use only. |
| Reserve | Items set aside by instructors for class use, often with limited checkout times. |
Want to test your skills? Try the Library of Congress Call Number Tutorial from Kent State University. It includes animations and practice quizzes to help you learn how to shelve and sort books correctly.
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