Tutorial on Library Research

After reading the sections and watching the video on this page, you should be able to: 

1. Define “call number” and explain how to use them to find items on the shelves.

Once you've searched the library catalog and found a (physical) book (or video) that you're interested in, you're ready to locate the item(s) on the library shelves. The sections below explain how to do that.   

Each item on the shelves in the library has been assigned a unique identifier called a call number. These can be thought of as addresses since they tell you where items are located. Call numbers are shown in the catalog in two places: on the search results page and in items records, which you can access by clicking on an item's title on the search results page. 

The image below shows the description on the search results page for (a version of) Plato's Republic. The call number is listed in parentheses in the last line: JC71.P35 2000. As this example shows, call numbers start with one or two letters (sometimes three) followed by a combination of numbers and letters. Why are they called call numbers if they contain letters? I don't know for sure, but perhaps the first type of call numbers consisted of numbers only. 

Suppose that you want to find this book on the shelves. The first thing to do is write down the call number. Be sure to write down the whole thing because every part is important. Now that you have the call number, you can go to the shelves. In the NOVA Libraries, (and most other libraries), each shelf is labeled with the call number range of the items on that shelf. The image below shows the call number signs on the first set of shelves in the Manassas Campus Library. 

Next, you would find the sign with the call number range that includes the call number JC71.P35 2000. Next, you would walk down the corresponding isle and face the shelves. The diagram below shows how the call numbers are arranged on the shelves.  

Next, you would walk slowly towards the other end of the shelf and skim the call numbers as you go. Eventually, you'll reach the call number JC71.P35 2000. The video below explains in more detail how to do this last part.  

Finding books on the shelves in the library will probably be confusing at first, but it gets easier the more you do it. Once you've figured out how to find books in one library, it'll be easier to find books in other libraries.