BOOST

BOOST Home Page

Table of Contents

The Research Process

Defining Research Needs

Developing a Research Strategy

Conducting the Search
Keep a Working Bibliography
Find Books
Find Articles
Find Call Numbers
Find Web Sites

Evaluating Resources

Using Resources

Hutchins Library Home Page

Need Help?

Assignment Calculator

BANC

BANC Tutorials

WriteNote®


How to Find Call Numbers


Call Numbers and the Dewey Decimal System

The Dewey Decimal System is a method used to organize materials within a library. The system uses 10 broad areas which are broken down into smaller, more specific topics. The areas are assigned numbers, known as "call numbers."

  • Call numbers always start with three digits, which range from 001-999. Arrangement is numerical.
  • If another number follows the 3-digit number, it will always be preceded with a decimal point.
  • "Cutter Number": Use of this allows all books within a particular Dewey Decimal number to be arranged alphabetically on the shelf, usually by title. Letters that follow the decimal number will always be arranged alphabetically in cases where the call number is the same.



Other types of call numbers you will see in Hutchins Library:


An example of how the Dewey Decimal System works:

900 General Geography and History

970 General History of North America

971 Canada

972 Middle America; Mexico

973 United States History

973.9 20th Century

973.91 1901-1953

973.92 Administration of J.F.Kennedy

973.98 Aministration of George W. Bush


Another Example:

700 Arts

796 Athletic and Outdoor Sports and Games

796.3 Ball games

796.33 Inflated ball driven by foot

796.332 American football

796.333 Rugby

796.334 Soccer (association football)