We use Library of Congress Classification to organize our books and audiovisual materials on shelves. Many academic and research libraries use this system, so it is transferable from one academic library to another. This page will explain how to find a book using this system.
You search for a book by using the library's online catalog. Just type in what you are looking for in the search box. The above search is for Joyce Carol Oates' Wonderland. The call number is listed under shelf location in the catalog as well as on the back of the spine of the book. They should match.
If it is in the circulating collection, it should be on the second floor.. If it says Reference, it should be on the first floor.
We use the Library of Congress system for organizing our materials. Many research and academic libraries use this system, so it is transferable in many cases from one academic library to another. The following is an anatomy of a call number:
PS3565 - American Literature written between 1961 and 2000
.A8 W6 - Usually based on the last name of the author or responsible party's name
1971- Year the book was published
On the shelf, the items are arranged in alphabetical order starting with the beginning letters. So PR will come before PS. PS3550 will come before PS3565. If you have two items that have PS3565 .A8, look at the next set of letters or the publication date. The lower letters will always come before the higher letters.
For the basic Library of Congress Classification Outline, go to http://libguides.asub.edu/LOC_Class.
Ebooks are similar to books in content, but have no call numbers, since they are not on the shelves. They are online and are digitized. You can also find eBooks using our online library catalog. There should be a link at the bottom of the record to where the book is located online.
Here are the locations for different collections:
Circulation - 2nd Floor
Reference - First Floor
Arkansas Reference - 2nd Floor, room 201
New Books - 1st Floor, across from the librarian's office
Audiovisual - 1st floor, technical services area