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Information Literacy 101 - The Basics of Using the Salmon Library

This guide is a collection of materials on the basic ways to use the library materials, including finding materials, citing materials, and so forth

What Are Call Numbers?

Call numbers supply an item's "physical address" or location on the shelf in a library. The letters and numbers that make up a Library of Congress call number represent subjects. Books with similar call numbers will cover similar subject matter and be shelved together in the stacks.

Reading Library of Congress Call Numbers

Guidelines:

  1. First line of the call number - Alphabetical. (Single letters preceed letters combined in alphabetical order)
  2. Second line - Numeric (whole numbers which may run into the thousands).
  3. Subsequent lines - Alphabetical, then Decimal Numeric.

Example of call numbers in order:

  1. Q181.A286 2008
  2. Q310.J65 2008
  3. QA13.M374 2007

Classification of Books

Classification of Books at the UAH Library

Books in the UAH Library are arranged by Library of Congress call numbers, according to the general system outlined below.

A -- General Works

  • A-AI -- Encyclopedias. Indexes
  • AN-AQ -- Journalism. Newspapers. Periodicals.
  • AY -- Almanacs. Directories. Yearbooks 

B -- Philosophy, Religion

  • B-BJ -- Philosophy - Logic. Aesthetics. Ethics
  • BL-BX -- Religion

C -- Auxiliary Sciences of History (Biography, etc.)

  • CB -- History of Civilization
  • CC -- Archaeology
  • CT -- Biography (General) 

D -- History - Old World

E - F -- History - New World (Americas)

G -- Geography. Anthropology. Recreation

  • G-GB -- Geography
  • GC -- Oceanography
  • GN -- Anthropology
  • GR -- Folklore
  • GT -- Manners and customs (General)
  • GV -- Recreation. Sports 

H -- Social Sciences (General)

  • HA -- Statistics
  • HB-HJ -- Business and Economics
  • HK-HL -- Psychology. Psychiatry
  • HM-HV -- Sociology. Pathology. Welfare. Criminology
  • HX -- Socialism. Communism. Anarchism 

J -- Political Science

K -- Law

L -- Education

M -- Music

N -- Arts - Architecture. Sculpture. Drawing. Painting

P -- Language and Literature

  • PA -- Languages and Literature, Classical
  • PB-PH -- Languages, Modern European
  • PJ -- Languages and Literatures, Oriental
  • PN -- Literary History and Collections (General)
  • PQ -- Literatures, Romance
  • PR -- Literature, English
  • PS -- Literature, American
  • PT -- Literature, Germanic
  • PZ -- Literature, Juvenile 

Q -- Science (General)

  • QA -- Mathematics and Computer Science
  • QB -- Astronomy
  • QC -- Physics
  • QD -- Chemistry
  • QE -- Geology
  • QH -- Natural History (General)
  • QK -- Botany
  • QL -- Zoology
  • QM -- Anatomy, Human
  • QP -- Physiology
  • QR -- Biology, Microbiology 

R -- Medicine

  • RT -- Nursing 

S -- Agriculture

  • SB -- Agriculture. Plant. Animal/Aquaculture 

T -- Technology (General)

  • TA -- Engineering (General). Civil Engineering
  • TC -- Engineering, Hydraulic
  • TD -- Engineering, Environmental
  • TE -- Engineering, Highway
  • TH -- Engineering, Construction
  • TJ -- Engineering, Mechanical
  • TK -- Engineering, Electrical/Electronic/Nuclear
  • TL -- Engineering, Vehicles/Aero- & Astronautics
  • TN -- Engineering, Mining/Metallurgy
  • TP -- Engineering, Chemical
  • TS -- Manufacturing
  • TT -- Handicrafts. Arts and Crafts
  • TX -- Home Economics 

U -- Military Science

V -- Naval Science

Z -- Bibliography. Library Science

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