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Locations and Call Numbers
To find a book in the library, you need to know the location and the call number. Together, the location and the call number are like an address for the book -- they tell you exactly where the book can be found. To find the address of a particular book, such as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, start with the UHD Library Catalog. The library catalog will give you the exact location and call number. To find a section of the library where you can browse all books of a particular type, such as business books, children's books, or geology books, a basic familiarity with library locations and call numbers can help you find the right place to start. Our library staff can also point you in the right direction. If you have any questions about how to find a book, please Ask a Librarian.
Understanding Locations
This is what a location looks like in the library catalog: DOWNTOWN/GENERAL COLL. The first part tells you the name of the library. The second part tells you the name of a collection in that library. Consult these charts for library and collection codes:
LIBRARY CODES
DOWNTOWN
University of Houston-Downtown
ANDERSON
University of Houston
ARCH&ART
University of Houston
LAW
University of Houston
MUSIC
University of Houston
OPTOMETRY
University of Houston
UHCL
University of Houston-Clear Lake
COLLECTION CODES (University of Houston-Downtown)
Audiovisual Services
General Collection
Information Desk
Juvenile Collection
K - 12 Textbook Collection 5th Floor North Leisure Reading
Microforms
Oversize
Periodicals
Reference
Reserves
Understanding Call Numbers
Most call numbers are based on the Library of Congress Classification System, a method of arranging books that is commonly used by college and university libraries. These call numbers use letters and numbers to represent the subject of each book.
In the library catalog, Library of Congress call numbers look like this:
HF5415 .M374 2007
When you find a book on the shelf, the call numbers look like this:
HF
5415
.M374
2007
This chart explains how to read a Library of Congress call number:
HF |
The first line represents a subject, such as business or geology. Read it in alphabetical order |
5415 |
The second line represents a more specific subject. Read it as a whole number, |
.M374 |
The third line usually represents the author. Read the letter alphabetically. Then read the number as a decimal, |
2007 |
The last line represents the year of publication. Read this number in chronological order. |
Library of Congress Call Numbers: An Outline
This is an outline of Library of Congress call numbers by subject. Use it to find a particular subject in the General Collection and the Oversize Collection (5th Floor South), the Juvenile Collection (5th Floor North), or the Reference Collection (4th Floor North).
CALL NUMBER(S) |
SUBJECT |
A |
General Works |
B-BD |
Philosophy and Psychology |
BF |
Psychology |
BJ |
Ethics |
BL-BX |
Religion |
CC |
Archaeology |
DA-DP |
History - Europe |
DS |
History - Asia |
DT |
History - Africa |
E |
History - United States |
F1-975 |
History - United States by State |
F381-398 |
History - Texas |
F1001-3799 |
History - The Americas |
G-GB |
Geography |
GE |
Environmental Sciences |
GN |
Anthropology |
GR |
Folklore |
GV |
Sports and Recreation |
HA |
Statistics |
HB-HC |
Economics |
HD-HJ |
Business. Finance. Accounting. |
HM-HS |
Sociology |
HV |
Social Problems. Social Work. Criminology. |
HX |
Socialism. Communism. Anarchism. |
J |
Political Science |
K |
Law |
L |
Education |
M |
Music |
N |
Fine Arts |
P-PM |
Linguistics. Langauges. Communication. |
PN |
Literature. Film. Television. Writing. |
PQ |
Literature - French / Italian / Spanish / Portuguese |
PR |
Literature - English |
PS |
Literature - American |
PT |
Literature - German / Scandinavian |
QA |
Mathematics |
QB |
Astronomy |
QC |
Physics |
QD |
Chemistry |
QE |
Geology |
QH-QR |
Biology |
R-RZ |
Medicine |
RC321-571 |
Psychiatry. Neurosciences. |
S |
Agriculture |
T-TP |
Engineering |
TR |
Photography |
TS |
Manufacturing |
TT |
Arts and Crafts |
U-V |
Military and Naval Sciences |
Call Numbers by Subject Area
| SUBJECT | CALL NUMBER(S) |
Agriculture |
S |
Anthropology |
GN |
Archaeology |
CC |
Arts and Crafts |
TT |
Astronomy |
QB |
Biology |
QH-QR |
Business. Finance. Accounting. |
HD-HJ |
Chemistry |
QD |
Communication |
P-PM |
Economics |
HB-HC |
Education |
L |
Engineering |
T-TP |
Environmental Sciences |
GE |
Ethics |
BJ |
Film and Television. |
PN |
Fine Arts |
N |
Folklore |
GR |
General Works |
A |
Geography |
G-GB |
Geology |
QE |
History - Africa |
DT |
History - Asia |
DS |
History - Europe |
DA-DP |
History - United States |
E |
History - United States by State |
F1-975 |
History - Texas |
F381-398 |
History - The Americas |
F1001-3799 |
Law |
K |
Linguistics and Langauges |
P-PM |
Literature and Writing. |
PN |
Literature - American |
PS |
Literature - English |
PR |
Literature - |
PQ |
Literature - German / Scandinavian |
PT |
Manufacturing |
TS |
Mathematics |
QA |
Medicine |
R-RZ |
Military and Naval Sciences |
U-V |
Music |
M |
Philosophy and Psychology |
B-BD |
Photography |
TR |
Physics |
QC |
Political Science |
J |
Psychology |
BF |
Psychiatry. Neurosciences. |
RC321-571 |
Religion |
BL-BX |
Social Problems. Social Work. Criminology. |
HV |
Socialism. Communism. Anarchism. |
HX |
Sociology |
HM-HS |
Sports and Recreation |
GV |
Statistics |
HA |
Back to: Research & Writing Tips
W.I. Dykes Library • University of Houston-Downtown
One Main Street • Houston, Texas 77002
Information 713-221-8187 • Circulation 713-221-8186
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Last updated or reviewed on 9/28/12
