The call number for a book works like an address, identifying its location in the library. Call numbers arrange materials by subject according to the Library of Congress classification system using a combination of letters and numbers. To shelf books in order, one must understand that the call number sections represent the subject, author's last name, and publication date, allowing books on similar topics to be browsed nearby.

1. LocatingGIL Reading your Results GIL Most of the fields from the results list are self-explanatory, but you might not know how to use the call number. Think of a Call Number like an address for locating the book in the library. Some locations have longer addresses and may include apartment numbers too, right? Call Numbers work in a very similar way. Call Numbers are arranged according to subject and according to Library of Congress classification. GGC Library Building 1000 University Lane Lawrenceville, GA 30043

2. LocatingGIL Reading Your Results GIL Library of Congress SystemThe GGC Library uses the Library of Congress classification system Library of Congress call numbers are a combination of letters, followed by numbers. The publication date is often the last element of the call number.

3. Locating More About Call Numbers Putting Call Numbers in Shelf Order To understand how call numbers are put in order in Library of Congress Classification, again look at each section of the call number. What does the call number mean? Remember that 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. And, as you probably recall, the last section of a call number is often the date of publication. example: Why is this important to know? Because books are classified by subject, you can often find several helpful books on the same shelf, or nearby. For example, within the same call number LB2395, there are other guides for college study.

4. Locating Since Library of Congress Classification arranges materials by subjects, knowing the letter(s) for your subject area gives you a place to start browsing the shelves. This chart gives the main classifications.

5. Locating Putting it all together If the record looks like this: And the Library of Congress Classification Schedule tells us this: E - History of the Americas 151-904 United States 456-655 Civil War Period 491-586 Armies, Troops. You read the call number like this: E 540 = A book about Black troops in the Civil War .N3 A84 = Usually the first initial of the author’s name, (in this case Ash) 2008 = The year the book was published