Once you have found a book in the catalog, you need to be able to find it on the shelf. Here's what you need to know to do so.
There are three elements to look at in the call number: location, call number, and status. Click here to see an example.
LOCATION
The location tells you which library has the item and where the item is physically located in that library: Greenfield Open Stacks, Music Lib Open Stacks, Greenfield Reference, Greenfield Special Collections, Greenfield Reserves, Greenfield Oversize, etc.
Location Name |
Where in library |
Greenfield DVD |
Greenfield Library DVD; ask for by call number at Greenfield circulation desk |
Greenfield Open Stacks |
Greenfield Library circulating books |
Greenfield Oversize |
Greenfield Library lower level, back near the video/DVD players |
Greenfield Periodicals |
Greenfield Library Periodicals & Technical Services Area, lower level |
Greenfield Reference |
Greenfield Library Reference section, opposite circulation desk |
Greenfield Reserves |
Greenfield Library circulation desk |
Greenfield Spec. Coll. |
Greenfield Special Collections, lower level of Greenfield |
Greenfield Vault |
Greenfield Library Periodicals & Technical Services Area, lower level |
Greenfield Videotapes |
Greenfield Library video; ask for by call number at Greenfield circulation desk |
Music Circ. Desk |
Ask for by call number at Music Library circulation desk |
Music DVD |
Music Library DVD; ask for by call number at Music circulation desk |
Music Lib Open Stacks |
Music Library circulating books |
Music Lib Periodicals |
Music Library Periodicals, shelved by call number |
Music Lib Reference |
Music Library Reference section |
Music Lib Reserves |
Ask for by call number Music Library circulation desk |
Music Videotapes |
Music Library video; ask for by call number at Music circulation desk |
CALL NUMBER
Always write down the location and the entire call number, which will always be at least two or three lines. It also helps to write down the author and a few words of the title.
The UArts Libraries use Library of Congress call numbers, which begin with letters.
The first line of the call number contains letters. These letters are read alphabetically:
H HA HD
The second line of the call number contains numbers which are read as a whole number:
HD |
HD |
HD |
HD |
98 |
100 |
115 |
204 |
The second line of the call number may contain a decimal component:
HD |
HD |
HD |
HD |
98.5 |
98.78 |
98.79 |
98.8 |
The third part consists of a single letter and then a sequence of numbers. Items are first placed in alphabetical order by letter, and then numerically according to the sequence of numbers. All the numbers in this line are treated as if they were preceded by a decimal:
HD |
HD |
HD |
HD |
98 |
98 |
98 |
98 |
.B69 |
.C2 |
.C215 |
.C25 |
|
|
The final line of the call number may include dates, volume, issue numbers, copy numbers:
HD |
HD |
8039 |
8039 |
2002 |
v. 1 |
c. 2 |
|
STATUS
Status tells you whether or not the item is available. CHECK SHELVES means that an open stack item is not checked out and should be on the shelf.
STATUS |
What it means |
CHECK SHELVES |
Item should be in library |
DUE MM-DD-YY |
Item is due on that date |
LIB USE ONLY |
Item must remain in library |
LOST |
Item has not been returned |
MISSING |
Item can't be found |
ON SEARCH |
Library staff are searching for item |
LOST AND PAID |
Item lost by patron and paid for; not yet replaced |
AT BINDERY |
Item is out being bound |
IN MENDING |
Item is out being mended |
IN STORAGE |
Item is stored elsewhere; request at desk by call number |
IN PROCESS |
Item is in Technical Services being processed |
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