A Brief Guiding to Finding Books on Library Shelves

Libraries use classification systems to organize materials and make them easily locatable by patrons and staff. Classification systems assign a title a call number which is a series of letters and/or numbers unique to that title that help organize books by characteristics such as subject, author, and/or title. Each book in the library will have a spine label indicating its call number.

Most of the materials in Smiley Memorial Library's collection are organized using Library of Congress Classification (LCC). Exceptions include the Young Adult (YA) collections, Juvenile/Children's literature collections, and popular DVDs. YA titles are organized using a local system based on the author's name and the title of the work. Divergent by Victoria Roth, for example, would have Rot Dive as its call number. Juvenile/Children's literature uses the Dewey Decimal system. Popular DVDs are organized by genre and title.

What Information do You Need to Find a Book?

To find a book in the Library, you will need the book's location and call number, both of which can be found in the Library catalog. The catalog record for the book will include this information under "Availability and Locations," as shown below. 

Locations Listed in the Catalog

In the Smiley Memorial Library Catalog, there will be a location code attached to each catalog record. This is designed to help you know what floor and shelf range the title is located on. Below are a few of the more common location codes you will encounter. 

• CMU General 3rd: The book is located on the 3rd floor of the Library in the General Collection. 
• CMU Children's Lit: The book is located on the 3rd floor of the Library in the Children's/Juvenile Literature Collection
• CMU Popular DVDs: DVDs are on a shelf near the front desk on the second floor. 
• CMU Young Adult Section: YA titles are located on the second floor in the Information Commons.
• CMU Popular NON FICTION: Graphic Novels are located on the second floor in the Information Commons. 
• CMU Graphic Novel Collection: Graphic novels are located on the second floor in the Information Commons. 
• CMU Reserve: The textbook reserve is located behind the front desk on the second floor. Ask Library staff for assistance finding reserve books. 
• CMU Popular Fiction: Popular Fiction titles are located on the second floor in the Information Commons. 

Want to Learn More?

• Quick Guide to Library of Congress Classification
• Quick Guide to the Dewey Decimal System