Red X iconGreen tick iconYellow tick icon

Learn how to read a Library of Congress (LC) call number (classification) to find the item on the shelf.

Find a book using its call number

  1. In the Library of Congress (LC) classification, the call number starts with a letter (or two), followed by numbers. The letter indicates the subject
  2. Read call numbers line by line (see example below):
  3. callnumbers
  4. Books are shelved left to right

The call number is also on the book's spine or front cover:

bookonshelf

Shelf signs in most libraries show the first part of the call number and the subject areas:

shelves

Library of Congress subject areas

AGeneral Works
BPhilosophy, Psychology, Religion
CAuxiliary Sciences of History
DWorld History and History of Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, etc.
EHistory of the Americas
FHistory of the Americas
GGeography, Anthropology, Recreation
HSocial Sciences
JPolitical Science
KLaw
LEducation
MMusic, Books on Music
NFine Arts
PLanguage and Literature
QScience
RMedicine
SAgriculture
TTechnology
UMilitary Science
VNaval Science
ZBibliography, Library Science, Information Resources (general)

National Library of Medicine (NLM) subject areas

Preclinical Sciences

QSHuman Anatomy
QTPhysiology
QUBiochemistry. Cell Biology and Genetics
QVPharmacology
QWMicrobiology and Immunology
QXParasitology
QYClinical Laboratory Pathology
QZPathology

Medicine and Related Subjects

WGeneral Medicine. Health Professions
WAPublic Health
WBPractice of Medicine
WCCommunicable Diseases
WDDisorders of Systemic, Metabolic or Environmental Origin, etc.
WEMusculoskeletal System
WFRespiratory System
WGCardiovascular System
WHHemic and Lymphatic Systems
WIDigestive System
WJUrogenital System
WKEndocrine System
WLNervous System
WMPsychiatry
WNRadiology. Diagnostic Imaging
WOSurgery
WPGynecology
WQObstetrics
WRDermatology
WSPediatrics
WTGeriatrics. Chronic Disease
WUDentistry. Oral Surgery
WVOtolaryngology
WWOphthalmology
WXHospitals and Other Health Facilities
WYNursing
WZHistory of Medicine. Medical Miscellany
 19th Century Schedule

Dewey Decimal System subject areas

000Computer Science, Information, & General Works
100Philosophy & Psychology
200Religion
300Social Sciences
400Language
500Science
600Technology
700Arts & Recreation
800Literature
900History & Geography

LibChat

Need help? Talk to one of our friendly Library staff.

Back to top