You've looked up a book and recorded the call number. Now how do you find that book?
Maybe you looked up Hamlet which has a call number PR 2807 .W35 1988
Print books in the Central Wyoming College Library are organized by the Library of Congress (LC) method to group like subjects on library bookshelves. Each book has a unique identification number (or call number), found on the spine of books (or sometimes on the front cover) and in the library's catalog records.
These unique call number acts as an address. It helps us find the books organized alphabetically by Library of Congress (LC) subject letters and numbers, grouping like subjects together for easier browsing.
Hamlet's call number is:
PR - indicates the general subject area; presented on the shelf in alphabetical order
2807 - number line which indicates more specifically the subject area; presented on the shelf in numerical order within the PR section
.W35 - combination of letters and numbers that often represent the author's last name; presented on the shelf in alphabetical then decimal order
1988 - year of publication; presented chronologically on the shelf
When you are looking for a print book in our libraries, always start with the top line of the call number. Remember, books are arranged alphabetically by this top line. For example, all BR numbers are together, after BP and before BS, and all B’s come after all combinations of A and before all combinations of C, like this:
B . . . BP, BR, BS, . . . C, CA, CB . . .
When books have identical letter lines, look to the number line next. Books are ordered using whole numbers on this line. For example:
When the top two lines are identical, look to the third line. Books are first ordered alphabetically; books with the same letter in the third line are then arranged by decimal number (not whole number.) The following call numbers are in correct order:
When the top three lines are identical, look to the fourth line. If it contains a letter followed by numbers, items are organized by letter and, within each letter, by decimal number. (Note that this works just like the line above it, treating the numbers as a decimal even though there is no visible decimal point.) The following call numbers are in correct order:
Multiple editions of a book will have the same call number, except for the last line, which will be the year of publication. Later years are shelved after earlier ones.
Some call numbers will include lines at the bottom to describe the volume, issue or part of the larger publication. These are shelved in alphabetical or numerical order, whichever is used. The following example is in correct order:
Some books in the library have unique call numbers that do not resemble the LC format. Maybe instead, you looked up How to Sell a Haunted House. Its call number is Fic Hendrix, and it says it's in Special. This is the area of our library with the newer fiction and nonfiction titles, located next to the DVDs
DVDs have a call number of DVD followed by a traditional LC Call number.
Example: Platoons' call number is DVD PN 1997 .P63826 1986
Other call numbers might say Storage, Reserves, Map, Check Desk, or Glass Case. For any of these, ask the person at the circulation desk.
Lastly, maybe you're looking for a game to play. Risk comes up as GAME Risk. Games are located on the first floor by the staircase.