C3 is a new customer-centered library classification system designed by Markham Public Library. It uses shorter call numbers and customer-friendly categories to make materials easier for patrons to find. It also allows materials to be sorted and shelved more quickly by staff, improving access. The system received awards for innovation from the Ontario government and municipalities in 2010 for enhancing customer service while increasing efficiency of library operations.

1. C3
Customer Centred Classification
MARKHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY imagine learn grow
C3 Customer‐Centred Classification
A new library classification system designed from a customer perspective, making libraries easier to use,
and supporting more efficient and effective library operations
KEY FEATURES OF C3:
 Customer‐friendly subject categories for non‐fiction collections
 Colour‐coded signage and spine labels
 Shorter and simpler call numbers
CUSTOMER SERVICE BENEFITS
Easier Finding and Browsing
 Customer‐friendly subject categories and shorter call numbers make it easier to browse and
quicker to find specific items.
Improved and Faster Access
 Faster behind‐the‐scenes material handling and sorting mean that staff can move returned items
out of the workroom and onto the shelves more quickly.
 Quicker turnaround makes library materials accessible to customers within minutes of being re‐
turned, improving customers’ library experience and connecting them to the newest and best li‐
brary materials.
BENEFITS ‐ EFFICIENCY
Faster Material Flow: Every day, thousands of items flow through Markham’s library branches. The
short C3 numbers speed up material flow by simplifying material handling processes—sorting, shelving
and retrieving items.
Keeping Pace with Growth: C3 helps us keep pace with growth in borrowing. In 2009, Markham Pub‐
lic Library customers borrowed more than 5 million items—a 34% increase over borrowing in 2005!
Higher Collection Turnover: Getting items back out onto the shelves more quickly, along with mer‐
chandising collections in customer‐friendly categories, improves collection turnover and ROI for tax
dollars invested in library collections.
AWARDS
2010 Award for Innovation from the Ontario Ministry of Culture and Tourism
2010 AMO (Association of Municipalities of Ontario) Peter J. Marshall Municipal Innovation Award

2. C3 Customer Centered Classification
C3 divides non‐fiction collections into customer‐friendly categories. Each category is
divided into relevant sub‐categories. Subjects within those subcategories are assigned
a 4 digit number from the ranges below.
Number C3 Category
Ranges Adult Nonfiction Children’s Nonfiction
0000 ‐ 0899 Health & Wellness Mind & Body
0900 ‐ 0999 New Age & Paranormal Stranger Than Fiction
1000 ‐ 1999 Lifestyle & Family Home, Family & Daily Life
2000 ‐ 2999 Home & Garden Home, Family & Daily Life
3000 ‐ 3899 Business & Finance People at Work
3900 ‐ 3999 Computers Computers
4000 ‐ 4199 Food & Drink Home, Family & Daily Life
4200 ‐ 4499 Crafts & Hobbies Crafts
4500 ‐ 4699 Sports & Games Sports, Games & Other Fun Stuff
4700 ‐ 4799 Cars, Bikes & Boats Things That Go
4800 ‐ 4999 Travel Lands & Peoples
5000 ‐ 5099 Humour Sports, Games & Other Fun Stuff
5100 ‐ 5199 Biography What A Life!
5200 ‐ 5299 True Crime Social Studies
5300 ‐ 5399 Facts & Trivia Facts & Trivia
5400 ‐ 5799 Languages & Learning Languages & Learning
6000 ‐ 6199 Philosophy & Spirituality Religion
Let’s Celebrate
6200 ‐ 6399 History Lands & Peoples
Ancient & Medieval Times
6400 ‐ 6999 Social Sciences Legends & Fairy Tales
Social Studies
7000 ‐ 7999 Science & Nature Science & Nature
Space: The Final Frontier
Dinosaurs
Animals
8000 ‐ 8999 How It Works How It Works
9000 ‐ 9599 The Arts The Arts
9600 – 9999 Literature Literature
Markham Public Library
6031 Highway 7 E.
Markham, ON L3P 3A7
905 513 7977
c3@markham.library.on.ca
www.markhampubliclibrary.ca