How do I locate a book in the library?

Follow these directions to find books in the library's collection.

1. Search in the library catalog to determine if the book is available at the library.

2. Identify the location of the book. Most of the books are in the General Collection and these are located in the library's basement. Oversized books are also in the basement. New books and some graphic novels are on the main floor of the library near the Stacks Cafe. Curriculum Center books are on the second floor. Some books may be in the Special Collection Center on the 3rd floor.

3. Find the call number on the library record. The library's books are organized by Library of Congress Classification so the call numbers include letters and numbers and the books are arranged alpha-numerically. Call numbers start with 1-3 letters, then a number, then a decimal followed by a letter and a number, there may also be an additional letter and number. Finally, most call numbers will end with a 4-digit number (the year it was published). Depending on the age of the book, not all of these elements will be present.

4. Find the book on the shelf using the location and the call number. 

Let's look at an example. Nicomachean Ethics has the call number B 430.A5 R69 2002. The call number is listed horizontally in the library catalog, but on the book spine, the call number is listed vertically and will appear like this

B

430

.A5

R69

2002

Each line is an element of the call number. Start by finding the first element of the call number and then work through each of the following elements. 

To read a call number: 

1. Read the top row in alphabetical order, from left to right.
2. Read the second row from the top as a whole number.
3. Read the third row from the top as a letter plus a number (perhaps with invisible zeroes).
4. Finally, read the bottom row as a year.

In this example, find the B section (alphabetically), then in the B section find 430 (numerically), then in the B 430 section find .A5, then in the B 430.A5 section, find R69, and finally in the B 430.A5 R69 section find the book that ends with 2002.

If you need assistance finding a book in the library, please ask a library employee for assistance.