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Call Numbers: Street Address
Call Numbers: Street Address
Every item in the library has a "house number" label on its spine so it can be returned to its proper home. These labels are called Spine Labels, and the address on them is the Call Number.
At TNUA Library, call numbers consist of letters and numbers. They reveal the item’s resource type and subject classification, which determines where the item is shelved. Follow the sequence: Top to bottom, left to right. Read the alphabetical order first, then compare the numerical values.
Anatomy of a Call Number
Anatomy of a Call Number
A complete call number is typically composed of three main parts:
Classification Number: The topic.
Cutter Number: Usually refers to the author or title.
Year, Volume, or Copy Number: Specific item information.
Classification Number: Which Aisle?
Classification Number: Which Aisle?
The first line of a call number is the Classification Number. It tells you which aisle the book lives in. First, match this number with the range indicated on the side panel of the bookshelf.
Example: A book with the class number N72.
Analogy: Imagine your friend lives on "N Road." This road has three sections:
Section 1: No. 1 – 6464
Section 2: No. 6465 – 7348
Section 3: No. 7349 – 8401
Since the number is 72, your friend is in Section 1 (Aisle 1). A book with N7200 would be in Section 2 (Aisle 2).
Cutter Number: Right Order
Cutter Number: Right Order
If you see three books with the exact same Classification Number, how do you know which one comes first?
A, or B?
A
B
The answer is B.
Look at the second line: The Cutter Number. The trick is to treat the Cutter Number as a decimal.
Example: Comparing .C55, .C554, and .C63.
Think of it as: 0.55 < 0.554 < 0.63.
Rule: Alphabet first, then the numerical decimal value.
More Call Number "Pro Tips"
Sometimes you will see extra codes at the end of a call number. Here is what they mean:
v.1 / v.2: Represents Volume. "v.1" is the first volume, "v.2" is the second.
Year: If all other parts are the same, the one with the more recent Year is the newer edition.
c.2: Represents Copy. "c.2" means the library has a second, identical copy of this book.
Suppl.: Represents Supplement. This refers to accompanying material, such as an answer key for a language test or a performance recording for a thesis.
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