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LIbrary of Congress Quick Guide

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Library of Congress Classification

The Library uses the Library of Congress Classification system to organize books.  Books are organized by topic using the LC classification structure.

How to Find Books

Library of Congress Call Number Explanation

Library of Congress Call Number Explanation

Call Number Breakdown (BF 408 .B34 2022)

(letters)
BF
The first line is the general subject, **Psychology**
(whole number)
408
The second line is the specific subdivision within psychology, in this case, **Memory**
(decimal number)
.B34
The third line combines the first letter of the author's name, **Bates**, with numbers. **Always assume a decimal point**. The numbers on this line are **decimal numbers**, not whole numbers.
(decimal number)
2022
The fourth line is the publication year.

📚 Shelf Order Explained

Here is a shelf of books with the call number order explained.

LA before LB
LA
2301
.M37
LA before LB
LB
2307
.M3
2327 before 2328
LB
2327
.Y53
2327 before 2328
.B before .C
LB
2328
.B37
.34 before .55
.B before .C
LB
2328
.C34
.34 before .55
.55 before .554
LB
2328
.C55
.554 before .63
.55 before .554
LB
2328
.C554
.554 before .63
.63
LB
2328
.C63
1987 before 1991
LB
2395
.C65
1987
1987 before 1991
LB
2395
.C65
1991

How to Find Journals

Journals are organized alphabetically by journal title.  There are no exceptions for commonly used words, such as "the," simply following alphabetical organization through the journal title names.

Example Title

Oilfield Review is after Oil Field Engineering and before Oil Forum

Journals starting with A-Neural Computation are on floor 1M.  Journals starting with Neural Networks - Z are on the first floor.

 

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