LibGuides: Basic Research: Finding a Book

Locating a Book on the Shelf

There are 3 pieces of information you need about a book to find it on the shelf.

The status: NOT CHECKED OUT means you can get it today.

The call number : LC40.G88 1992

The location : UMSL TJ Level 4.

Reading a Call Number

LC call numbers are read from left to right, and from top to bottom. The letters at the beginning of the call number are alphabetical. The numbers immediately following are in basic numerical order, i.e., 5 then 6, 50 is after 49 and before 51, and 100 is after 99.

Although it was developed to organize materials housed at the Library of Congress, the Library of Congress Classification system (LCC) is now widely used in academic libraries around the world. The LCC system begins with 21 categories, each identified by a letter of the alphabet. Most of the categories are also broken down - to get more specific - and identified by 1 or 2 more letters. For example N contains Fine Arts; ND is Painting, a topic in fine art.

Individual topics are also delineated by place, time period, etc. using numbers (in ND673 you'll find books on painter Peter Paul Rubens who lived 1577-1640). A call number may have up to 4 digits (1-9999) in the main part, and then if necessary, decimal places that may have only numbers or both a letter and numbers. (Library of Congress Classification http://www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/lcc.html)

Finding Topics by the Library of Congress Call Numbers

Below are the major classes or categories found in LCC:

A - General
General Encyclopedias, Almanacs
B - Philosophy, Psychology, & Religions
Also includes Ethics, Logic, and Mythology
C - Auxiliary Sciences of History
Archaeology, Genealogy, Heraldry, Numismatics (coins & currency)
D - World History
Histories of Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, etc.
E & F - History of the Americas
USA, Canada, Latin America & the Caribbean
G - Geography, Anthropology
Also includes Folklore, Environmental Sciences, Leisure/Recreation, Oceanography
H - Social Sciences
Business, Demography, Economics, Sociology, Statistics
J - Political Science
Colonies/Colonization, Government, International Law, Political Institutions, Public Administration
K - Law
Also includes Religious Law
L - Education
All aspects of Education from history of to practice at all levels
M - Music
Compositions, History and Literature of Music, Instruction and Study
N - Fine Arts
Architecture, Decorative Arts, Design, Drawing and Painting, Sculpture, Visual and Print
P - Language and Literature
Classical and Modern Languages, Literature, Poetry, Philology/Linguistics
Q - Sciences
Including all the Natural Sciences, Mathematics, Natural History
R - Medicine
All Medical specialties, Homeopathy, Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health
S - Agriculture
Aquaculture/Fishing, Forestry, Hunting, Plant Culture
T - Technology
Including Arts & Crafts/Handicrafts, Chemical Technology, Construction, Engineering, Home Economics, Metallurgy, Motor Vehicles, Photography
U - Military Science
Armies: Organization, Maintenance, etc.
V - Naval Science
Marines, Navies: Organization, Navigation, Shipbuilding
Z - Bibliography
Books: Industry & Trade, Information Resources, Libraries, Paleography, Writing

Library Floor Plans

Explore the Library

Floor	Description
Level 5	Books QD - Z, Periodicals, Microform, Study Rooms, Curriculum & Children's Books, Scanner, Tables.
Level 4	Books G - QC, Silent Study Area (with Tables and Carrels)
Level 3	Entrance, Public Service Desk (Reference & Circulation), Café TJ, Research Commons/Computer Lab, Copier & Scanner, Instruction Room (Room 315), Tables
Level 2	St. Louis Mercantile Library, COM2, Government Documents, Folio and Oversize Books, Tables, University Archives, State Historical Society of Missouri Research Center - St. Louis
Level 1	Books A - F, COM1, Additional Mercantile exhibits, Carrels and Tables