Locating Items in the Locating Items in the CCSU Library CCSU Library

(and most college libraries)(and most college libraries)

We need a system to find We need a system to find itemsitems. To help the process, . To help the process, librarians librarians catalogcatalog information. information.

CatalogingCataloging means identifying means identifying items in an orderly manner so items in an orderly manner so people can easily locate them.people can easily locate them.

Subject ClassificationSubject Classification Subject headings*Subject headings*

In an effort to impose order on people’s IDEAS, In an effort to impose order on people’s IDEAS, librarians developed several similar systems of librarians developed several similar systems of CLASSIFICATION.CLASSIFICATION.

CLASSIFICATION refers to keeping library CLASSIFICATION refers to keeping library items together on the shelves based on the items together on the shelves based on the topics covered by the items.topics covered by the items.

CLASSIFICATION CLASSIFICATION is based on the *is based on the *SUBJECT SUBJECT CONTENTCONTENT of the itemsof the items..

Two classification systems Two classification systems are preferred:are preferred:

Dewey Decimal systemDewey Decimal systemsubjects are represented by numeralssubjects are represented by numerals

Example: 927.1Example: 927.1 Library of Congress Classification SystemLibrary of Congress Classification System

subjects are “Alphanumeric”subjects are “Alphanumeric”possibilities for more expansionpossibilities for more expansion

Example BL123 .N46Example BL123 .N46 1990 1990 Most universities use the “LC” SystemMost universities use the “LC” System Public libraries use “Dewey”Public libraries use “Dewey”

You’d expect items on similar subjects to You’d expect items on similar subjects to be found near each other, wouldn’t you? be found near each other, wouldn’t you?

For exampleFor example Books on the American Revolution Books on the American Revolution

should be shelved near each othershould be shelved near each other

Books on job interviewing should Books on job interviewing should be shelved near each otherbe shelved near each other

Books on art history should be Books on art history should be shelved neared each other.shelved neared each other.

Each library item that is cataloged Each library item that is cataloged has a “Call Number.”has a “Call Number.”

The first part of the “Call Number” The first part of the “Call Number” refers to an item’s subject content. refers to an item’s subject content. This part of the “Call Number” is This part of the “Call Number” is known as the “Classification known as the “Classification number” The Classification number number” The Classification number refers to what the book is about.refers to what the book is about.

HF5382.7 A32 1992Classification number

Each library item that is cataloged Each library item that is cataloged has a unique “Call Number.”has a unique “Call Number.”

For example:Here’s a book on finding

a job.

Getting Hired When Times are Tough

HF5383 C67 1987

H is for Social Sciences

HF is Commerce (business)

HF5000 etc.

is Vocational Guidance

HF5383C671987

TITLE The complete resume & job search book for college students / by Bob Adams with Laura Morin.SUBJECT Job hunting.

Employment interviewing. Applications for positions. CCSU Stack Level 4 HF5382.7 A32 1992

CONSIDER THE SUBJECTS AND CALL NUMBERS OF THESE THREE BOOKS:

TITLE Your first interview : everything you need to know to "ace" the interview process and get your first job / by Ron Fry.SUBJECT Employment interviewing. Job hunting.CCSU Stack Level 4 HF5549.5 I6 F79 1991

TITLE The work book : getting the job you want / by J. Michael FarrSUBJECT Job hunting. Vocational guidance.CCSU Stack Level 4 HF5383 F37 2004

TITLE The complete resume & job search book for college students / by Bob Adams with Laura Morin.SUBJECT Job hunting.

Employment interviewing. Applications for positions. CCSU Stack Level 4 HF5382.7 A32 1992

CONSIDER THE SUBJECTS AND CALL NUMBERS OF THESE THREE BOOKS:

TITLE Your first interview : everything you need to know to "ace" the interview process and get your first job / by Ron Fry.SUBJECT Employment interviewing. Job hunting.CCSU Stack Level 4 HF5549.5 I6 F79 1991

TITLE The work book : getting the job you want / by J. Michael FarrSUBJECT Job hunting. Vocational guidance.CCSU Stack Level 4 HF5383 F37 2004

Notice that theSUBJECTS arerelated and theITEMS are shelvednear each other inCALL NUMBERorder.

This helps youBROWSE

What does the rest of the“CALL What does the rest of the“CALL NUMBER” signify?NUMBER” signify?

The next set of The next set of letter(s) and letter(s) and numbers following numbers following the Classification the Classification Number is called the Number is called the “Cutter” number.“Cutter” number.

It is based on the It is based on the author’s name. author’s name.

Following that is Following that is (sometimes) the date (sometimes) the date and copy number.and copy number.

BF301 U56 1991 c4

The Cutter number, in this case U56, usually stands for the author’s last name 1991 is the publication date

c4 is the copy number

Cutter Number

The order of books on the The order of books on the shelves in the “STACKS”shelves in the “STACKS”

1) Basic alphabetical order

The order of books on the The order of books on the shelves in the “STACKS”shelves in the “STACKS”

2) within a single letter, orclassification, such as "H", alphabetical order is still used. "H" comes before "HA”, which comes before “HD", which comes before "HL", etc.

The order of books on the The order of books on the shelves in the “STACKS”shelves in the “STACKS”

3) When books have the same first line in a call number, they are shelved in numerical order, looking at the second line.

The order of books on the The order of books on the shelves in the “STACKS”shelves in the “STACKS”

4) If the first two lines of a call number are the same, books are shelved by the third line of the call number, which is a decimal arrangement. This line is always read as a decimal even when the decimal point is not present

PS3571 P39

NB 170

741.59493

PR 7 .R79835

PN1997

PS 3571 .P4 1977

PS3571 P39

NB 170

741.59493

PR 7 .R79835

PN1997

PS 3571 .P4 1977

1 2

3

4

5DEWEY – notshelved in thesame collection

PS3571 P39NB 170

741.59493

PR 7 .R79835

PN 1997

DEWEY

(Drawings, cartoons,Graphic novels)

PS 3571 .P4 1977

If library items are shelved by If library items are shelved by subject --subject --

Where do the Where do the

subject headings subject headings

come from?come from?

The Subject Headings are actually The Subject Headings are actually devised by the Library of Congress. devised by the Library of Congress.

There are over 250,000 There are over 250,000 LCSHLCSH

The subjects are governed The subjects are governed by a by a “controlled “controlled vocabulary”vocabulary” thesaurusthesaurus. .

Although we might refer Although we might refer to a subject by a to a subject by a popular phrase, the popular phrase, the actual subject heading actual subject heading could be quite different.could be quite different.

LCSH = Library of Congress Subject Headings

Subject headings vs. keywordsSubject headings vs. keywords

For example, we might be thinking of a topic and calling it

“GUN CONTROL,”

but the LCSH calls the same topic “FIREARMS--LAW AND LEGISLATION.”

When we are searching for items by subject, we need to know the correct LCSH heading.

Imprisonment (May Subd Geog)

UF Confinement

Incarceration

BT Corrections

RT Prisons

SA subdivision Imprisonment under names of individual persons

NT Arrest

Debt, Imprisonment for

False Imprisonment

Imprisonment False

USE False Imprisonment

In this example, note that UF means “use Imprisonment instead of Confinement or Incarceration.”

A term that is broader (BT) than Imprisonment is Corrections --

and it is a LCSH. Prisons is a valid term also; it is related (RT) to Imprisonment.

SA means “See Also” and suggests other possible ways to deal with the topic.

NT is “Narrower Term.”

recommendation:recommendation:In any database or library catalog, In any database or library catalog, begin your begin your

searching with a keyword search.searching with a keyword search.

When you identify an item that is relevant or When you identify an item that is relevant or important for you, look closely at the item’s important for you, look closely at the item’s Subject Headings AKA as descriptors, subjects, Subject Headings AKA as descriptors, subjects, etc.etc.

Then, Then, use hyperlinks provided with the Subject use hyperlinks provided with the Subject Headings, when available, to continue your Headings, when available, to continue your search.search.

Click this hyperlink to find more possibleItems on marketing to the elderly

By using the hyperlinkto the “correct” LCSHwe have identified 26items that may behighly relevant to oursearch