Library Students Assistant Training: how to read a call number ?

 

how to read a call number?

Each book has a specific location in the library.A call number tells you where is the book locatet exactly in the library, to go and find it or to returne it to its right place.

a call number contains , letters , numbers, decimals , date volume or copy number.

to find a certain book , patron should use the library catalog , on the library website or catalog search computers located in the library, each books has a call number that indicates where its located in the library.

for example 

BS 110.L220 2012

Patrons should search for the book in BS section in the main collection , and it looks like this on the spine of the book:

BS

110

.L220

2012

- The first letters indicate the subject of the book, and its ordered alphabetically.

 

PN 197.52 .G59567 B76  1989

PN 197.6 .G59567 B76  1989

PN 197.649 .G59567  B76  1989

PN 197.68 .G59567  B76  1989

- the second raw contains numbers (whole number)

- The third line its called  Cutter number , it starts with letters (alphabetically), and decimal numbers, EX. S110 comes after C612 and S60, but before S350 and T 20.

 Decimals are different from whole numbers, for example 315.20 comes before 315.5 ( .20 is a smaller decimal than .5 , anything after the . is read alone 2 is smaller that 5 ) similarly 315.298563 comes before 315.3, because .298563 is smaller decimal than .3)

 

N 6537 .L522 H454 1988

N 6537 .L54 A2 2000

N 6537 .O39 M48 2001

N 6537 .O39   P48 1991

 

 

- the forth number is Date of publication, and it should be shelves in chronological order EX: 2002 comes after 1998 , but before 2008 , for the same book. of a book doesn't contains a date in the call number , that book comes before the same book that does have a date in the call number.

QC 981.8 .G56 G578

QC 981.8 .G56 G578 2002

QC 981.8 .G56 G578 2006

 

 

- the fifth number is the Volume number EX. v.2  , its shelved in whole number.A book that has no call number , always comes before the set of the same books that have a call number.

- the sixth number is the copy number for the same book EX . C.1 , C. 2. also shelved in whole number.

 

Z 1003.3 .E85 S7613 1999 c.1

ZA 1003.3 .E85 S7613 1999 c.1

ZA 1003.3 .E85 S7613 1999 c.3

remember: it is very important to take your time , because cutter number is very tricky