LibGuides: Public Health and Advocacy: Visting the Library

How to Read a Call Number

What is a Call Number?

The call number is the "address" for a book. Use it to locate books (and other items) at the Library.

Read the first line in alphabetical order. For example, PR would come before PS.
Read the second line as a whole number and in numerical order. For example, 1541 would come before 1631.
The third line is a combination of letters and numbers. Read the letters alphabetically and the numbers as a decimal. For example, A3 would come after A133.
In many cases the last line will be the year the book was published.

Location	Subject Area
Upper Level	A - General Works
	B - Philosophy, Psychology, Religion
	C - Auxiliary History of Science
	D - World History and History of Europe
	E - History of the Americas
	F - History of the Americas
	G - Geology, Anthropology, Recreation
	H - Social Sciences
	J - Political Science
	K - Law
	L - Education
Main Level	M - Music and Books on Music
	N - Fine Arts
	P-PQ - Language and Literature
Lower Level	PR-PZ - Language and Literature
	Q - Science
	R - Medicine
	S - Agriculture
	T - Technology
	U - Military Science
	V - Naval Science
	Z - Bibliography, Library Science, Information Science

Location	Status	What this means
Main Library	Books	Located in the Main Stacks (see our call number map for locations). - Can be checked out for a semester.
Main Library	3 Hour Reserve	Located behind the Circulation Desk, give staff the call number. - Can be checked out for limited time (usually 3 hours).
Main Library	Reference	Located on the Main Level near the Information Desk. - Cannot be checked out.
Main Library	Oversize	Located on the Lower Level in standalone section near Archives. - Can be checked out for a semester.
Archives		Located on the Lower Level. - Cannot be checked out, visit sarahlawrence.edu/archives for more information.
Music Library		Located at Marshall Field. - Check out depends on item type.