Reading Call Numbers
What is a Call Number?
Call numbers are numbers assigned to library resources to classify their subject and organize them. Most branches at UBC Library use the Library of Congress (LC) Classification system (not Dewey Decimal!), although Xwi7xwa Library uses a different system.
Elements of a Library of Congress Call Number
A Call Number can be read left to right, or top to bottom. It is often written top to bottom on the spine of books, as shown below.
- The initial letters stand for the book's subject. They are read in alphabetical order, with single letters before multiple letters. Because they stand for subjects, the books on the shelf nearby will have similar topics
- A number of up to four digits further specifies the subtopic. Within letter groups, books are organized from smallest to largest number.
- The second letter and number combination is the decimal number (although the decimal point doesn't always appear). The letter is usually the first initial of the author's last name. Read the letter alphabetically and the numbers from smallest to largest, with fewer digits appearing before more digits. For example, C27 appears before C275. There may be two decimal numbers in a call number.
- The final part of a Library of Congress Call number is the publication year.
With these four elements, you are now ready to find books in the UBC Library Stacks!
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