Search for Books: Find Books on the Shelf

Find the library location and call number in the Library Search record under “Get It.”

Some books in Library Search will have a location that says “limited access” or “non-circulating.” These are only available to use in the library and can’t be checked out. Books in Special Collections often require an appointment to see materials.

Call numbers are a book's address

Call numbers tell you a bit about the book and where it can be found in the library. Each shelf is marked with the range of call numbers it holds. Call numbers are arranged alphabetically.

Most of our books use Library of Congress Classification call numbers. The letters and numbers are assigned based on the book's subject, so you can find other books about similar topics on the shelf nearby.

Call numbers in order on the shelf

1st Letters

Books are arranged in alphabetical order. A single letter comes before double letters.

1st Numbers

The numbers are in order, from low to high. Read the first set of numbers as whole numbers, followed by decimals.

2nd Letters

The 2nd set of letters comes after the decimal point. They are arranged in alphabetical order.

2nd Numbers

Immediately after the letter, there's another number. Read them as decimals.

3rd Letters & Numbers

If there are any more letters and numbers, read these the same way you did for the 2nd set.

Year of publication

The year it was published is last.