Understanding Call Numbers

What are call numbers for?

Each book in the library has a unique call number. A call number is like an address: it tells us where the book is located in the library.

  

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

Reading Call Numbers

Like many academic libraries in the United States, VCU Libraries uses Library of Congress Classification for call numbers. This system uses a combination of letters and numbers to arrange materials by subjects.

What does the call number mean?

Library of Congress Classification arranges materials by subjects.

• The first sections of the call number represent the subject of the book.
• The letter-and-decimal section of the call number often represents the author's last name.
• The last section of a call number is often the date of publication.

For more information, check out the Library of Congress Classification Table.

Location Prefixes

If a call number looks like the examples above, (e.g. LB2395 .C65 1991), the book is shelved in the general circulating stacks.  In this case, this book would be shelved on the 3rd floor of Cabell Library.  Some call numbers may start with a  location prefix which indicates it is shelved in a location different than the general circulating stacks.  Example: Ref AG243 .G87 1992
The Ref prefix indicates that this book is shelved in the Reference Collection. Location prefixes mean that book is shelved in a special place, and may have loan restrictions. VCU Libraries uses the following location prefixes:

Prefix	Collection	VCU Libraries Location
{no prefix}	Circulating Collection	Cabell Library, 3rd & 4th floor
TML	Circulating Collection	TML Library, all floors
CHEC	Community Health Education Center	Gateway Bldg 1st floor, MCV Campus
Oversize	Oversize -- books larger than 14cm on any side	Cabell Library, 3rd & 4th floor TML Library, 2nd floor
Ref	Reference Collection	Cabell Library, 1st floor TML Library, 1st floor
JUV or YA	Juvenile and Young Adult literature	Cabell Library, 4th floor
MEDIA	Media and Reserves	Media and Reserves, Cabell Library 3rd floor Multimedia, TML Library Basement
DOC	Federal Government Documents	1st floor, Government Documents
VaDOC	Virginia government document	1st floor, Government Documents
SPEC COLL	Special Collections that don't circulate	Cabell Library, 4th floor Special Collections TML Library, 1st floor Special Collections
SECURED AREA	Special Collections that circulate	Cabell Library, 4th floor
Reserve	Reserve Book set aside for a class	3rd floor, Media and Reserves http://www.library.vcu.edu/reserves/
Compact Storage	Stored collections	Request item through the link in the record
Limited Use	Valuable current periodicals	Request from the Circulation Desk

Other collections in the library

Collection	Location
Bound Journals/Periodicals/Serials	Cabell Library, 2nd floor TML Basement and Levels A-E
Current Journals/Periodicals/Serials	Cabell Library, 1st floor (Reference area) TML Basement
Summer Reading Program	1st floor (Circulation area)

For more information about call numbers and finding library materials, ask your librarian.

***Thanks to the University of Hawaii website at http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/legacylib/callno.html for graphics and design of this webpage.

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