Location Codes

When you use the online catalog, the Location Code appearing on the screen just to the left of the call number tells you where that item is shelved in the library. There are many location codes. However, the four you will probably see most often are LOWER LEVEL, UPPER LEVEL, OVERSIZE (UPPER), and REFERENCE (MAIN).

Take a virtual tour of the building in Chapter 1 to review where things are located in the library facility.

List of Location Codes

Here are some of the more common location codes you will find in the online catalog.

• LOWER LEVEL – General Shelves, call numbers A-L
• UPPER LEVEL – General Shelves, call
  numbers M-Z
• OVERSIZE & FOLIO (UPPER) Upper level, west
• AV/MUSIC VIDEO (MAIN) - Main Level, behind the Periodical shelves
• MEDIA (MAIN) - Main Level, behind the Periodical shelves
• BROWSING (MAIN) - Main Level, Near the Entrance
• CHILDREN’S LITERATURE (LOWER) – Lower Level
• K-12 CURRICULUM (LOWER) - Lower Level
• FICHE: HPER (MAIN) - Lower Level, Room 028
• NH DOCUMENTS (MAIN) - Main Level, Reference Area
• REFERENCE (MAIN) - Main Level, Reference Area
• RESERVE DESK - Main Level, Information Desk
• SCORE (UPPER) - Upper Level, near Tower Room
• SPECIAL COLLECTIONS - Upper Level

Call Numbers

A Call Number is a unique identifying number assigned to each book or other media item. As in most libraries you have used in the past, you need to find the Call Number of the book you want by looking in the library catalog. Once you find the Call Number, look for the book that has that number printed on the spine of the book.

The Library of Congress Classification Schedule is a system of coding books alpha- numerically by subject. The Call Number for each book is determined by this classification schedule. Most academic libraries use this system rather than the Dewey Decimal Classification System used by public and school libraries.

When you look at LOLA, the library’s on-line catalog, a Library of Congress (LC) Call Number will look like this: BX 325.2 .F589 1991 On the spine of the book it will look like this:

BX 325.2 .F589 1991

Understanding call numbers will help you find books and other materials in the library easily. Look at the above call number line by line: The “B” classifies the book as dealing with Philosophy, Psychology, or Religion, according to the Library of Congress Classification Schedule printed below. Look at the list and take note of some other subject areas. Which area looks most interesting to you?

Try this tutorial. You’ll need to be at a computer that has PowerPoint loaded. Any of the computers in the campus computer clusters will work. It will take about three minutes to work through the presentation. http://www.plymouth.edu/library/libraryinstruction/lamsonguide/understandingcallnumbers.ppt

The Library of Congress Classification Schedule

A General Information: Encyclopedias, Almanacs… B Philosophy, Psychology Religion

• B-BD Philosophy
• BF Psychology
• BL-BX Religion

C Auxiliary Sciences of History

• CC Archaeology
• CR Heraldry
• CS Genealogy
• CT General Biography

D History: General and Old World E History: United States: General F History: States of the U.S.; Canada; Latin America G Geography, Anthropology, Folklore, etc.

• G-GB Geography
• GN Anthropology
• GR Folklore
• GV Recreation, Sports, and Dance

H Social Sciences

• HA Statistics
• HB-HJ Business and Economics
• HM-HX Sociology: Family; Race; Criminology Substance Abuse, etc.

J Political Science

• JK Political Science in the United States

K Law

• KF Law in the United States
• KFN Law in New Hampshire

L Education M Music N Fine Arts

• NA Architecture
• NB Sculpture
• ND Painting
• NK Decorative Arts: Pottery, Antiques, Costume

P Language and Literature

• P-PA Linguistics; Classical Languages and Literatures
• PC French Language, Spanish Language
• PE English Language
• PF German Language
• PN General Literature (Perf. Arts, Drama, Film, Theater)
• PQ French Literature; Spanish Literature
• PR English Literature
• PS American Literature
• PT German Literature

Q Science

• QA Mathematics; Computer Science
• QC Physics; Meteorology
• QD Chemistry
• QH-QR Natural History; Life Sciences

R Medicine S Agriculture T Technology

• TA-TK Engineering
• TR Photography
• TX Home Economics (Nutrition; Cookery; Hotels/Inns)

U Military Science V Naval Science Z Bibliography; Library Science

Is the item available?

The status field in the online catalog tells you if the book has been checked out. The word AVAILABLE means the book is on the shelf. If it had been checked out, the date it is due would appear in this field, instead. If there is another status like LOST or MISSING, ask for help at the Information or Research Desk.

A Periodical Record

Many, but not all, periodical articles are available in full-text online. You can use the online catalog to determine if the library owns a title and it what format (i.e. print paper, microfiche or microfilm).

On the library website, click on Journal List on the left hand side of the screen under the FIND menu. In the search box, type in the title of the journal. See below:

The results of the search indicate that we own this title.

You can click on the LAMSON LIBRARY holdings to see what is available in the building, or click on the EJS link to find the dates of the articles that are available full-text.

Remember, if you have any problems, ask for help at the Research or Information Desks.

Below are floor maps of the three levels in the Library and Lamson Learning Commons.

Review Questions

1. What is a Location Code?
2. What is a Call Number?
3. On LOLA, a Call Number would look like this: PE1628. M36 1993 Write out that same Call Number as it appears on the spine of the book:
4. Look at the Library of Congress Classification Schedule in this chapter to answer this question. Under what letter classification would you find books on:
   1. Meteorology ______
   2. Photography ______
   3. Skiing ______
5. When you locate a book on LOLA, what does the following notation mean under the STATUS column? DUE 11-29-06
6. Use the floor plans at the end of this chapter to answer the following questions:
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a. On which level are the Oversize Shelves located?__________________

b. On which level would you look for K-12 Curriculum materials?_________________

c. On which level would you find the Archives & Special Collections_________________

d. On which level would you find the Periodical Shelves?________________

e. On which level would you find a Reference Librarian?________________

ANSWERS:

1. The Location Code appears to the left of the Call Number and tells you in which specific area and floor level of the Library the book or item is shelved.

2. The Call Number appears to the right of the Location Code, and is the unique identifying number assigned to that specific book (or any catalogued item). The initial letters of the Call Number indicate the general subject matter of the book.

3. On the book spine, call numbers are written vertically: PE 1628 .M36 1993

4.

1. QC
2. TR
3. GV

5. It means that the book has been checked out and is due back on the date indicated.

6.

1. UPPER LEVEL
2. LOWER LEVEL
3. UPPER LEVEL
4. MAIN LEVEL
5. MAIN LEVEL