Library of Congress Classification System:
A Brief Guide
Jean Wells
Reference Librarian
Winthrop University
June, 2008
How to Read LC Call Numbers
The first set of letters is alphabetical:
| H |
HA |
HB |
HC |
| 45 |
126 |
12 |
13 |
| .B62 |
.F99 |
.I90 |
.C55 |
| 1990 |
.K9 |
1975 |
.C55 |
The following set of numbers is in numerical order:
| B |
B |
B |
B |
| 45 |
467 |
1200 |
1231 |
| .H432 |
.K77 |
.P95 |
.C33 |
| 1980 |
1967 |
.A66 |
.I7 |
|
|
1990 |
1981 |
The letters after the Decimal Point are alphabetical:
| KF |
KF |
KF |
KF |
| 456 |
456 |
456 |
456 |
| .A43 |
.B99 |
.K99 |
.L7 |
| .E45 |
1990 |
1987 |
1990 |
| 1993 |
|
|
|
The numbers after the Decimal Point are in decimal order (Note that .C263 is before .C27.)
| L |
L |
L |
L |
| 901 |
901 |
901 |
901 |
| .C25 |
.C26 |
.C263 |
.C27 |
| 1977 |
1993 |
1988 |
1976 |
Another line of letters and numbers may follow. These will be in alphabetical and decimal order. The publication date may be included.
| B |
B |
B |
B |
| 1200 |
1200 |
1200 |
1200 |
| .P95 |
.P95 |
.P95 |
.P95 |
| .A65 |
.A651 |
.A66 |
.A87 |
| 1990 |
1974 |
1981 |
1966 |
To find where in the library a particular call number is located please see the Maps/Tour of the Library pages ( http://www.winthrop.edu/dacus/resources/virtualtour.htm)
LC Classification System: A Brief Guide
| A: General Works (Encyclopedias, etc) |
N: Fine Arts |
| B: Philosophy, Psychology, Religion |
P: Language and Literature |
| C: Auxiliary Sciences of History |
Q: Science |
| (Includes Genealogy, Biography) |
R: Medicine |
| D: History: General and Old World |
S: Agriculture |
| E and F: History: America |
T: Technology |
| G: Geography, Anthropology, Recreation |
(Includes Home Economics) |
| H: Social Sciences |
U: Military Science |
| J: Political Science |
V: Naval Science |
| K: Law |
Z: Bibliography, Library Science |
| L: Education |
|
| M: Music |
|
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