Finding Library Items Using Call Numbers
There are many ways to classify library items, such a books, journals, encyclopedias, dictionaries, nonprint materials and some government documents, etc. The UM Libraries use the Library of Congress (LC) Classification System.
This guide will show you how to read an LC call number, and will explain how broad subjects are organized under the LC Classification System.
Table of Contents
How Call Numbers Work
The following is an example of how call numbers work for books. The principles are the same for other library items classified using the LC system. Consult a librarian if you need help.
McKeldin Library Stacks Directory
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Books:
A - F (Stacks and Folio) G - HU (Stacks and Folio) HV - PR (Stacks and Folio) PS - Z (Stacks and Folio) Periodicals: Current Periodicals Room Periodical Stacks A - G Periodical Stacks H - P Periodical Stacks Q - Z Other Locations: East Asia Collection Government Documents Maryland Theses National Bibliographies |
Floor
Floor 3 Floor 5 Floor 6 Floor 7 Floor 1 Floor 3 Floor 6 Floor 7 Floor 4 Floor 4 Floor 3 Floor 2 |
For more specific location information, see the McKeldin Library Floor Plan [pdf].
The Library of Congress Classification System
| A-AZ | General Works | M | Music |
| Encyclopedia, almanacs, general | |||
| indexes | |||
| N-NX | Fine Arts | ||
| B-BX | Philosophy, Psychology, Religion | NA | Architecture |
| BD | Philosophy | NB | Sculpture |
| BF | Psychology | NC | Drawing, design, illustration |
| BL-BX | Religion | ND | Painting |
| NK | Arts, crafts | ||
| C-CT | Auxiliary Sciences of History | ||
| CC | Archaeology | P-PZ | Language and Literature |
| P | Philology, linguistics, | ||
| CS | Genealogy | communication | |
| CT | Biography | PA | Classical languages, literature |
| PC | Romance languages, literature | ||
| D-DX | History: General and Old World | PE | English dictionaries, thesauri |
| Includes geography and description of | PF | German, Dutch | |
| regions and countries | PG | Russian | |
| DA- | |||
| DR | Europe | PL | East Asian languages |
| DK | Soviet Union | PN | Drama, poetry, radio broadcasts, |
| DS | Asia | movies, television, journalism | |
| DT | Africa | PQ | Romance literature |
| PR | English literature | ||
| E-F | History: America | PS | American literature |
| E | North America | PZ | Fiction in English |
| F | United States local history, Latin | ||
| America | |||
| Q- | |||
| QR | Science | ||
| G-GV | Geography, Anthropology, Recreation | Q | General science |
| G | Geography, atlases | QA | Mathematics, computer science |
| GE | Environmental sciences | QB | Astronomy |
| GN | Anthropology | QC | Physics |
| GR | Folklore | QD | Chemistry, biochemistry |
| GV | Sports, dance, games | QE | Geology |
| QH | Natural history | ||
| H-HX | Social Sciences | QK | Botany |
| H | General social sciences | QL | Zoology |
| HA | Statistics | ||
| HB | Economics | R | Medicine |
| HC | Economic conditions | RA | Public aspects of medicine |
| HD | Industry, labor | RC | Practice of medicine |
| HE | Transportation, communication | RD | Surgery |
| HF | Business, commerce | RJ | Pediatrics |
| HG | Finance | RM | Therapeutics, drugs |
| HM | Sociology | RS | Pharmacy |
| HQ | Family, marriage, aged, women | ||
| sexuality | |||
| HT | Communities, cities, races | S-SK | Agriculture |
| HV | Criminology, drug abuse | SB | Plant culture |
| HX | Socialism, communism, anarchism, | ||
| utopias | SD | Forestry | |
| J | Political Science | T-TX | Technology |
| JF | Constitutional history | TA | Engineering |
| JK | United States | TL | Motor vehicles, aeronautics |
| JS | Local government | TR | Photography |
| JX | International law, world peace | TX | Home economics |
| K | Law | U | Military Science |
| KF | United States law | V | Naval Science |
| KFM | Maryland law | Z-ZA | Library science, bibliography |
| L | Education | ZA | Information resources |
