LSU Libraries
Understanding Call Numbers

How to Read the Call Numbers - cont.

Let's put the following Library of Congress call numbers in order:
PS
2552
.O874 A6
2001
PK
2198
.G4 A233
1999
M
1613.3
.B94 L6
1990Z
PN
1994
.M78
1996
PS
3568
.A486 W56
2001
PS
3
.A47
1967

The first step is the easiest. Putting he first letters in correct order you get this:
M
1613.3
.B94 L6
1990Z
PK
2198
.G4 A233
1999
PN
1994
.M78
1996
PS
2552
.O874 A6
2001
PS
3568
.A486 W56
2001
PS
3
.A47
1967

The next step is a little more tricky. The first set of numbers you come to are treated as a WHOLE number, and shelved in order from smallest to largest. So... 3 is before 2552 which is before 3568, which means PS 3 is before PS 2552 which is before PS 3568.
M
1613.3
.B94 L6
1990Z
PK
2198
.G4 A233
1999
PN
1994
.M78
1996
PS
3
.A47
1967
PS
2552
.O874 A6
2001
PS
3568
.A486 W56
2001


          



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