Using Call Numbers

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Reading A Call Number

QA

107.2

.Z33

2024

Call Numbers can begin with one, two, or three letters that refer to the general subject: QA=Mathematics (The Library of Congress determines these letters).

These are followed by numbers, which refer to the specific subject matter: QA107.2 = Basic Mathematics or Arithmetic (Again, from the Library of Congress)

The third line often represents the author's last name or the beginning of the title: Z = Zegarelli

The last line indicates the date of publication: 2024

In Your Library Search Results List

Each physical item in the Library is assigned a Call Number.  This serves as the location for the item on the shelves. 

 

When you do a Library Search, your results list will show the call number in several places for each physical item on our shelves.

Screenshot of location list from an item in the Library catalog

Locating Items on the Shelf

First check the Location of the item to make sure that you are looking on the right campus and in the right set of shelves!  Items can be in Green Bay, Marinette, Sturgeon Bay, or our regional centers. 

At each campus, there are shelves for Main Stacks, Reference, Magazines, Special Collections (like Study Success, Job Hunting, Test Prep, Diverse Voices & Topics, or Fun DVDs), and Reserves (such as the 2-Hour textbook collection or equipment reserves).

Items are shelved by Call Numbers in both alphabetical and numerical order according to the Library of Congress classification system:

A - General Works

B - Philosophy, Psychology, Religion

C - Auxiliary Sciences of History

D - History: General & Outside the Americas

E - History: United States

F - History: United States Local & America

G - Geography, Anthropology, Recreation

H - Social Sciences

J - Political Science

K - Law

L - Education

M - Music

N - Fine Arts

P - Language and Literature

Q - Science

R - Medicine

S - Agriculture

T - Technology

U - Military Science

V - Naval Science

Z - Library Science & Information Resources