The West Library uses the Library of Congress (LC) classification system to organize library materials by subject using alphanumeric call numbers. It is widely used by academic and research libraries because this arrangement allows for "serendipitous browsing," where a reader may find a helpful book in the catalog and then find even more useful materials nearby on the shelf.
Each call number is unique to a particular item, reflecting its subject, author, and sometimes publication date. Think of a call number as an address for a book, telling you exactly where to find it inside the library. To learn more about call numbers and how to read them view the video and information below.
| HN | First letters: The first letter of a Library of Congress call number indicates the general subject the call number falls within. In our example, the book is located under H, where books on social sciences are grouped. If there is a second or third letter, these indicate a specific subclass. HN indicates social history and conditions, social problems, and social reform. |
| 59 | Numbers that follow the letters: The numbers define the book's subcategory. The number 59 refers to a book about a specific region or country, in this case, America. |
| .T39 | Cutter Number: The Cutter Number indicates the author or title of the book. It is taken from a table matching names or titles to a set of numbers. In our example, T39 reflects the first word of the author, Taylor. |
| 2014 | Year number: The edition of a volume is the next part of the call number. The year of publication follows the Cutter number to indicate the edition. In our example, 2014 indicates that this edition was published in 2014. |
