How to Find Call Numbers

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