Library Call Numbers

The Library is a pretty big place. Here's how to find exactly which book or other resource you're looking for.

 

Organized by 'Location'

Both the Goleman and Mountain House libraries are organized by "location." These locations include:

  • Reserves
  • Compact Discs
  • Audiobooks
  • Careers
  • Main Book Collection
  • Juvenile Picture Books
  • New Readers
  • Special Collections/Archives
  • DVDs
  • Skills Express
  • Oversize
  • Reference
 

Call Numbers

Within each location, materials are arranged by subject. Each subject is abbreviated with a "Call Number." Library of Congress Call Numbers are used in almost all locations.

Tips:

  • Books on similar subjects have similar call numbers, which you can find in the catalog and on the spine of the book
  • The first two lines of the call number describe a subject area
  • The third line is usually associated with the last name of the author and usually appears as a decimal number (i.e., a book by Moore could be ".M66")
  • Sometimes, however, the third line is associated with a more specific aspect of the subject
  • Sometimes there is a fourth line, also a decimal number specifying an author or title
  • And the last line is usually the year of publication

 

Confused? Don't Worry!

You can always ask a reference librarian for help finding what you need.

These resources might also be helpful:

Intro to Library of Congress Call Numbers


How to Locate Materials Via the Library of Congress Call Number

Library of Congress Call Number Outline

 

  • A - General Works
  • B - Philosophy (General)
  • BF - Psychology
  • BJ - Ethics
  • BL - BX Religions
  • C - Auxiliary Sciences of History
  • D - History: General and Old World
  • E - History: United States (General)
  • F - History: United States (local). Canada. Latin America
  • G - Geography. Maps. Anthropology. Recreation
  • H - Social Sciences (General)
  • HA - Statistics
  • HB - HJ Economics. Business. Finance
  • HM-HX Sociology
  • J - Political Science
  • K - Law (General)
  • L - Education
  • M - Music
  • N - Fine Arts (General)
  • NA - Architecture
  • NB - Sculpture
  • NC - Graphic Arts
  • ND - Painting
  • NK - Decorative arts. Applied arts
  • P - General Philology and Linguistics
  • PA - Classical Language & Literatures
    Byzantine and Modern Greek Literature
    Medieval and Modern Latin Literature
  • PC - Romance Languages
  • PE - English Language
  • PF - Germanic Languages
  • PG - Slavic Languages & Literature
  • PL - Asian Languages & Literature
  • PN - World Literature
  • PN - Broadcasting. Theater. Journalism
  • PQ - Romance Literatures
  • PR - English Literature
  • PS - American Literature
  • PT - Germanic Literatures
  • PZ - Children's Literature
  • Q - Science (General)
  • QA - Mathematics
  • QA - Computer Science
  • QB - Astronomy
  • QC - Physics
  • QD - Chemistry
  • QE - Geology
  • QH - Ecology & Natural History
  • QK - Botany
  • QL - Zoology
  • QP - Physiology
  • QR - Bacteriology, Immunology & Virology
  • QR - Molecular biology
  • R - Medicine (General)
  • RC - Psychiatry
  • RC - Sports Medicine
  • RM - Pharmacology
  • RM - Nutrition
  • RM - Physical Therapy
  • RS - Pharmacy & material medicine
  • S - Agriculture (General)
  • S - Conservation of natural resources
  • SB - Plant (Crop) Science
  • SB - Landscape Architecture
  • SD - Forestry
  • SF - Animal Science
  • SH - Fish & Fisheries
  • SK - Wildlife Management
  • T - Technology (General)
  • TA-TH - Civil Engineering
  • TD - Pollution & Environmental Technology
  • TH - Building construction
  • TJ - Mechanical Engineering
  • TK - Electrical Engineering
  • TL - Motor vehicles. Aeronautics. Astronautics
  • TN - Mining and Metallurgy
  • TP - Chemical Engineering
  • TP - Genetic Engineering
  • TR - Photography
  • TS - Manufactures. Industry
  • TT - Crafts. Fashion
  • TX - Home Economics. Nutrition
  • U-V Military and Naval Science
  • Z - Library Science. Bibliography

 

ANSCR (Compact Discs and Records Only)

 

  • A - Music Appreciation
  • J - Electronic and mechanical music
  • B - Opera
  • K - Musical show and operetta: complete and excerpt
  • C - Choral Music
  • L - Soundtrack music for Motion pictures and Television
  • D - (Solo) Vocal Music
  • M - Popular music
  • E - Orchestral Music
  • MA - Pop music
  • EA - General Orchestral
  • MC - Country/Western/Bluegrass Music
  • MG - Contemporary Gospel
  • EB - Ballet
  • MJ - Jazz Music
  • EC - Concertos
  • MR - Rock Music
  • ES - Symphonies
  • P - American folk and Native American music (inc. Zydeco, Cajun, Native American, Cowboy songs, Hawaiian, etc.)
  • F - Chamber Music
  • Q - International (Folk and Pop)
    Arranged by Region, then Country
  • G - Solo Instrumental Music
  • R - Holiday music
  • GG - Solo guitar
  • S - Humor
  • GO - Solo organ
  • T - Plays*
  • GP - Solo piano
  • U - Poetry*
  • GS - Solo stringed instruments (i.e. Harp)
  • V - Prose*
  • GV - Solo violin
  • W - Documentary*
  • GW - Solo wind instruments
  • X - Instructional
  • GX - Solo percussion and unusual instruments
  • Y - Sound effects / special effects
  • H - Band music
  • Z - Children's recordings
  • ZI - Children's Instructional
  • ZM - Music for children
  • ZS - Children's spoken word*