Page 46 - DLIS103_LIBRARY_CLASSIFICATION_AND_CATALOGUING_THEORY

Seema Sharma, Lovely Professional University Unit 6: Concept of Call Number

Unit 6: Concept of Call Number Notes

CONTENTS
Objectives
Introduction
6.1. Concept of Call Number
6.2. Class Number
6.3. Book Number
6.4. Collection Number
6.5. Summary
6.6. Keywords
6.7. Review Questions
6.8. Further Readings

Objectives

After studying this unit, you will be able to:
Understand the concept of call number
Elaborate the concept of the class number
State about the book number
Illustrate the meaning of the collection number.

Introduction
The first letter of a call number represents one of the 21 major divisions of the library concept (LC).
For example, the subject “Q” is Science. The second letter “E” represents a subdivision of the
sciences, Geology. All books in the QE’s are primarily about Geology. Books in categories E,
United States History, and F, Local U.S. History and American History, do not have a second letter
(exception: in Canada, FC is used for Canadian history). Books about Law, K’s, can have three
letters, such as KFH, Law of Hawaii. Some areas of history (D) also have three-letter call numbers.
Most other subject areas will have call numbers beginning with one or two letters. For most of the
subject areas, the single letter represents books of a general nature for that subject area (i.e., Q -
General Science or D-General World History).

6.1 Concept of Call Number
Each book in the library has a unique call number. A call number is like an address and it tells us
where the book is located in the library.
1. Call numbers appear: Call numbers appear on the spines of books and in the online catalog
as shown below:

on the spines of books and in the online catalog.

LB
2395 LB2395. C65 1991
.C65
1991

Note that the same call number can be written from top-to-bottom, or left-to-right.

LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 41