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Kresge Library > Services > Instruction > Pathfinders > Call Numbers

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By:

Linda Hildebrand Assistant Professor & Archives Coordinator

Phone: (248) 370-2483 E-mail: hildebra@oakland.edu

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A book is classified (assigned a call number) according to the subject matter it covers. Like many other academic libraries, Kresge Library uses the Library of Congress Classification to group related books together on its shelves. It is also used for periodicals. In fact, the only library materials not in LC call numbers are videos/DVDs and Government Documents, which are shelved by Superintendent of Documents or SUDOCS number.

The LC classification consists of combinations of letters and numbers. The main categories or classes are designated by a single capital letter (P = Language and Literature) and sub-classes by two or more letters (PS = American Literature). Further subdivision is by use of Arabic numbers in ordinary numerical sequence. Class numbers are filed alphabetically, then numerically. For example:

Shelving order of Classification numbers

P 3115

PA 25

PS 168

PS 169

PS 170

 

These class numbers are usually followed by a "cutter number" which is preceded by a decimal point; sometimes there is a second cutter number as well. Numbers appearing after letters preceded by the decimal point are filed decimally. For example:

Shelving Order of Classifications With Cutter Numbers

General category	PS	PS	PS	PS	PS	PS
Class number	196	196	196	196	198	198
Cutter number	.B56	.B6	.C15	.C2	.A12	.A2

 

Locations of Books and Other Cataloged Materials

* Books - 3rd floor
* Children's Literature Collection (Bingham) - 2nd floor, south wing
* Current issues of periodicals - 4th floor, center east
* Federal Documents - 1st floor
* Michigan Documents - 2nd floor, south wing
* Oversize Books - 3rd floor, north wing (at end of alphabet)
* Periodicals - 4th floor
* Reference - 2nd floor, south wing
* Reserves - 2nd floor, Circulation Desk
* Scores, Sheet Music - 3rd floor
* Sound Recordings - LPs - 3rd floor; compact discs and tapes - Circulation Desk
* Spec. Coll. - 1st floor, Archives/Special Collections Room (by app't. only)
* Spec. Res. - 2nd floor, Circulation Desk

Click here for a map of Kresge Library.

Summary of Library of Congress Classification

A General works (A), Encyclopedias (AE), Indexes (AI), Almanacs (AY).

B Philosophy (B), Psychology (BF), Religion (BL-BT)

C History-Auxiliary Sciences, Genealogy (CS), Biography (CT)

D History and Topography (excluding American) (D), Great Britain (DA), France (DC), Russia (DK), Asia (DS), Australia (DU)

E America (General and United States) - History and Civilization

F United States (Local) and American (excluding United States)--includes Canada, Central and South America - History and Civilization

G Geography (G), Anthropology (GN), Manners & Customs (GT), Sports (GV)

H Social Sciences (H), Statistics (HA), Economics (HB), Economic Production (HD), Commerce (HF), Business & Finance (HG), Sociology (HM), Family, Marriage (HQ), Criminology (HV), Socialism, Communism (HX)

J Political Science (J), United States (JK), Europe (JN), International (JX)

K Law (K), United States (KF)

L Education (L), History (LA), Theory (LB), Special Aspects (LC)

M Music (M), History & Criticism (ML), Study and Teaching (MT)

N Fine Arts (N), Architecture (NA), Sculpture (NC), Painting (ND)

P Language & Literature (P), Romance Languages (PC), Germanic Languages (PD), English Language (PE), Literary History (PN), English Literature (PR), American Literature (PS), Germanic Literature (PT)

Q Science (Q), Mathematics & Computers (QA), Physics (QC), Chemistry (QD), Natural History (QH), Botany (QK), Zoology (QL), Physiology (QP)

R Medicine (R), Internal Medicine (RC), Pharmacy (RS), Nursing (RT)

S Agriculture

T Technology (T), General Engineering (TA), Mechanical Engineering (TJ), Electrical Engineering (TK), Chemical Technology (TP)

U Military Science

V Naval Science

Z Bibliography and Library Science

 

Library of Congress Classifications Alphabetically By Subject

Subject	Call Number Areas
Agriculture	S
Almanacs	AY
Anthropology	GN
Archaeology	CC
Architecture	NA
Art	N
Astronomy	QB
Biography	CT
Botany	QK
Business	HA - HG
Chemistry	QD
Communism	HX
Computer Science	QA
Criminology	HV
Economics	HB
Education	L
Education, History of	LA
Education, Theory of	LB
Encyclopedias	AE
Engineering, Chemical	TP
Engineering, Electrical	TK
Engineering, General	TA
Engineering, Mechanical	TJ
Family and Marriage	HQ
Genealogy	CS
Geology	QE
History	D - F
History--Africa	DT
History--Asia	DS
History--France	DC
History--Germany	DD
History--Great Britain	DA
History--Russia	DK
History--South America	F
History--United States	E
Language	P
Language, English	PE
Language, Germanic	PD
Language, Romance	PC
Law	K
Law--United States	KF
Library Science	Z
Literature	P
Literature, American	PS
Literature, English	PR
Literature, French	PQ
Literature, German	PT
Literature, History	PN
Literature, Spanish	PQ
Marketing	HF
Medicine	R
Medicine, Internal	RC
Military Science	U
Music	M
Music--History and criticism	ML
Music--Study and teaching	MT
Mythology	BL
Natural History	QH
Naval Science	V
Nursing	RT
Pharmacy	RS
Philosophy	B
Physics	QC
Physiology	QP
Political Science	J
Politics--European	JN
Politics--International	JX
Politics--United States	JK
Psychology	BJ
Religion	BL - BT
Science	Q
Social Sciences	H
Socialism	HX
Sociology	HM
Sports	GV
Statistics	HA
Technology	T
Zoology	QL