3 students working around a laptop

Reading Call Numbers

Vocabulary:

Call Number
Library of Congress Classification

When you visit the library in person or when you are looking up a book online, you'll notice that each item has a combination of letters and numbers attached to it. On a physical book it is often printed on the spine, online it appears as part of the item information. This is the call number. The letters and numbers denote the subject of the book as well as where it is shelved, meaning that books are shelved together based on what they are about. Call numbers are read alphabetically and from smallest to largest number. UBC Library uses a classification system called Library of Congress Classification to assign call numbers to books. This is explained in more detail in the infographic below.

Infographic explaining how to read call numbers.

To view a text version of this infographic: visit Reading Call Numbers.

Because books are shelved by topic, it can be very useful to browse other titles on the shelves near the book you are interested in. This can help you discover similar books you might have otherwise missed. To get the experience of browsing the stacks remotely, click the call number in your search results, as indicated below:

Screenshot of a book in UBC Library catalog with the call number indicated with red arrow.

This will bring you to a list of titles at UBC Library organized by call number, just like they would appear on the shelves:

Screenshot of list of library materials organized by call number

In this way, you can "browse the stacks" from home. Another perk of this method is that when browsing in person, you may miss out on titles shelved at other library branches. This way, you'll see everything available at UBC Library!

Activity

(Need the worksheet? Library Introduction Worksheet )

On your worksheet, answer this question:

Name the four elements of a call number.

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