What's a call number?
A call number is the information used by libraries and librarians to determine the location of a book on the library shelves. It can be considered the address of where the book lives in the library. Call numbers may seem confusing at first, but if you break it down into parts, you'll see that it's really pretty simple!
Call numbers consist of two parts. The first part of the call number tells us what section of the library we should visit.
For example, the call number shown below would be found in the nonfiction section of the library since all nonfiction books have Dewey Decimal numbers. To find the book, use the library signs above the book cases to find the correct area to look.
Once you are at the correct section, you can look at the call numbers on the spines of the books to find the correct location. Many time there will be more than one book with the same call number. This call number is the number for snakes. To determine where in the snake section this book belongs, check the second part of the call number . These letters are the first three letters of the author's last name. When there is more than one book with the same call number, books are alphabetized by the author's last name.
597.96
MAR
The next example, FIC
LEW
tells us that this book belongs in the fiction section. All books in the fiction section are shelved in alphabetical order by the author's last name. If there is more than one book by the same author, the call numbers will be the same. In that case, the books are placed on the shelf by alphabetical order of the title.
Our last example, E
SEU
tells us that this book belongs in the E section. Books in the E section are primarily picture books and chapter books suited for emerging and early readers. These books are shelved in the same way as the fiction books - alphabetical order by the author's last name.
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Call numbers consist of two parts. The first part of the call number tells us what section of the library we should visit.
For example, the call number shown below would be found in the nonfiction section of the library since all nonfiction books have Dewey Decimal numbers. To find the book, use the library signs above the book cases to find the correct area to look.
Once you are at the correct section, you can look at the call numbers on the spines of the books to find the correct location. Many time there will be more than one book with the same call number. This call number is the number for snakes. To determine where in the snake section this book belongs, check the second part of the call number . These letters are the first three letters of the author's last name. When there is more than one book with the same call number, books are alphabetized by the author's last name.
597.96
MAR
The next example, FIC
LEW
tells us that this book belongs in the fiction section. All books in the fiction section are shelved in alphabetical order by the author's last name. If there is more than one book by the same author, the call numbers will be the same. In that case, the books are placed on the shelf by alphabetical order of the title.
Our last example, E
SEU
tells us that this book belongs in the E section. Books in the E section are primarily picture books and chapter books suited for emerging and early readers. These books are shelved in the same way as the fiction books - alphabetical order by the author's last name.
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