How do I find a book on the shelf?
Answer
Scribner Library uses the Library of Congress (LC) call number system to organize books on the shelves. Use the written directions below to locate a book using this system or watch the video.
You can always ask at the Research Help or Circulation desks if you need help locating a book on the shelf.
Here are the steps to locating an item using Library of Congress:
1. In the library catalog write down the call number of the book and the floor on which it can be found.
2. Once on the correct floor look for the first letter(s) of the book. These are shelved alphabetically. NA comes before NK which comes before P.
3. Look numerically for the first number in the call number. NA500 comes before NA1020 which comes before NA2000.
4. Use the next letter/number combination looking first for the letter alphabetically and then the number. This number is treated like a decimal. .E45 comes before .F45 which comes before .F5.
5. If needed use the next letter/number combination searching alphabetically then numerically as a decimal. You can also use the publication year to find the specific edition of a work.
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Research Help Desk
Summer 2025 Hours
May 9 - June 30 - Librarians will be on-call for research help. Ask at the Circulation desk.
July 1 - Aug. 1 - Librarians will be available at the Research Help desk from 10:00am-12:30pm on weekdays.
Aug. 1 - Sep. 2 - Librarians will be on-call for research help. Ask at the Circulation desk.
Regular Research Help Desk hours begin again on September 3rd.
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