Library Procedure Handbook

LTC Library organizes their materials according to Library of Congress (LC) Classification. You will need to learn how to read LC Classification call numbers in order to organize books correctly on the shelf. Watch this brief introduction to LC Classification: 

(From New York Law School Shelving Libguide) 

Read Call Numbers line by line:

Shelving/Filing Rules of LC Call numbers

Single letters are filed before double letters:

The second part of a call number is made up of a number that may have one or more digits. This line is read numerically. A call number with a smaller number is shelved before one that has a larger number. Some of these numbers may be divided by a point: these are also read numerically (smaller numbers are shelved before larger numbers).

The third part is the trickiest part of the call number. This part of the call number is called the "cutter". The numbers in this part are treated like decimals.

Follow these general rules when dealing with cutter numbers:

1. Treat the letter of the cutter number alphabetically. For example, cutter numbers beginning with .B are shelved before those starting with .E.
2. Smaller first digits after the letter are shelved before larger ones. For example, all cutter numbers beginning with .E3 would be shelved before all cutter numbers beginning with .E4, and those would be shelved before cutters beginning with .E8.
3. Smaller second, third, etc. digits are shelved before larger ones. For example, cutters beginning with .E35 are shelved before cutters beginning with .E39. Likewise, for the third number: .E353 is shelved before .E355 and .E359.
4. Items with only one digit after the letter are shelved before items with multiple digits beginning with the same number(s). So, the cutter number .E3 is shelved before .E35 , which is shelved before .E359.

Sometimes there are TWO cutter numbers in a call number. The first cutter, in these cases, is related to the subject of the work. The second cutter is related to the author. The shelving order of the second cutter follows the same four rules described above.

Sometimes, the top of the call number has the item's location: "Ref" for Reference room, etc. The final lines of the call numbers may include copy numbers, issue numbers, volume indicators and other annotations such as supplement or index specifiers. For example, the call numbers below are shelved in Reference:

Look at this example of books in the correct order: 

Watch this video that reviews the information found above and shows what order some different call numbers would go in. 

So now you know how to read LC Call Numbers! Hooray!

However - A word of caution: ALWAYS ALWAYS CHECK THE LOCATION before you shelve items. 

At LTC Library we have the following locations: 

• General Collection
• Test Prep
• Children's Collection
• Serials/Journals
• Fiction and DVDs
• Audiobooks
• Diversity Collection
• College Success Collection
• 4-hr and 2-day Reserves
• Semester Reserves

So make sure you check the stickers on the book spine so you know what collection it is part of. You can also check the location by looking the item up in our online catalog. 

Time to test what you know! Play the quizzes below: 

1. LC Call Number Quiz - Find the book that comes first

2. Quiz #2

3. And the trickiest quiz of all!

5. Book Cart Test - Now the real test! Ashley will put together a book cart for you to put in order - let her know you're ready for the challenge!