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Call NumbersCall Numbers

Remember, a call number is like the

book’s address in the library. It tells where the book lives on the

library shelf.

Our library has many kinds of materials, so we have different kinds of call numbers, such as:

Fiction

Easy

Nonfiction

Reference

Audiovisuals

Today we’re going to learn the formula for making different kinds of call numbers.

A fiction call number is made up of two parts:

FIC (for fiction)

and the first three letters of the author’s last name.

So a fiction call number for the author, Beverly Cleary would look like this:

FIC

Cle

What would the fiction call number for the author, Matt Christopher look like?

FIC

Chr

An easy reader call number is made up of two parts:

E (for easy reader)

and the first three letters of the author’s last name.

So an easy reader call number for the author, Jan Brett would look like this:

E

Bre

What would the easy reader call number for the author, Peggy Parish look like?

E

Par

Another kind of Fiction is the Story Collection

(this is a shelf of short stories at the end of the fiction section)

SCKea

How do we put fiction and easy reader call numbers in order?

Think….How can we put letters in order?

That’s right, fiction and easy reader call numbers are in

ABC order.

Non-fiction call numbers are made up of two parts:

Numbers (for the subject)

and the first three letters in the author’s last name.

So a non-fiction call number for a mammal book by Jane Mosley would look like this: 599

Mos

What would the non-fiction call number for a dinosaur book by the author, Marc Simont look like?

567.9

Sim

A reference book call number is made up of three parts:

REF (for reference)

### (numbers for the subject)

and the first three letters of the author’s last name.

So a reference call number for a dictionary by Merriam Webster would look like this:

REF

423

Web

What would the reference call number for the World Book Encyclopedia look like?

REF

031

Wor

How do we put reference call numbers in order?

Think….reference call numbers have three rows, REF, numbers and letters, so..

Reference call numbers are put in number order first, then in

ABC order.

What about Paperback books?

Paperbacks only have a letter for the author on the spine. For example, a Goosebumps book by R. L. Stine would have a great big S as its call number!

Our library has lots of Audiovisuals, such as videos, study prints, kits, CDs, and cassettes. Each one uses a Nonfiction call number with a top line that tells what kind of AV it is, such as this one for a video: VC #22

398.2

Whe

Let’s see if you can tell what kind of library material goes with each call number !

796

Bon

Non-fiction

E

Car

Easy

KIT #332

567.9

Ber

Audiovisual

(this one’s a kit)

FIC

Low

Fiction

REF

912

Ste

Reference

Call Numbers are important!

• They are a guide to what kind of book or media the item is.

• They tell which shelf the item is supposed to be on.

• They keep books and AV in order so that they can be found quickly.

• They organize books by subject or author so that all the same types can be shelved together.