Books on the Shelf: LC Call Numbers
You will need a call number to find where the book sits on the shelf. We use Library of Congress (LC) call numbers, like most college and university libraries. Library of Congress call numbers are alpha-numeric codes used to identify individual items and their place on the shelf.
To find the book on the shelf using the LC Call number first locate the section of books that share the same first line of the call number- don't worry, they will all be shelved together. Within that group locate the books that share the second line of the call number. Repeat line by line until you find the book you need.
Read the first line alphabetically.
G comes before GN on the shelf and GN comes before H.
Read the second line as a whole number.
2 comes before 237 and 237 comes before 370
Read the third line alphabetically and as a decimal.
.Q6 and .R106, come before .R6. and .R6 comes before .R706
Read the fourth line as a whole number. This is the year of publication.
In a multi-volume set the fifth line designates the volume number of the book.
Most general Anthropology books can be found on Level 3 under the LC heading GN, but don't limit your search to just these!
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