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How Books are Organized

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Every book in our library has a home on a shelf, and the address (call number) to its home is located on the spine label.  Important things to remember:
  • The spine of the book should always be facing out so that the call number is visible and readable. 
  • Occasionally, a book is too tall to fit on the shelf properly.  In this case, the spine should face up and out toward the reader.
  • Shelf markers help to hold a book's place on the shelf when the book is removed to look at.  Replacing the shelf marker with the book ensures that it is properly shelved for the next patron.
  • Call numbers for non-fiction books begin with Dewey Decimal numbers, followed by the first 3 letters of the author's last name.  For example: Believe It Or Not: Space Facts by David Baker - 501 BAK.
  • Decimals are used to further refine the location of non-fiction.  In this case, they should be shelved as follows:
501 BAK
501 OSB
501.02 TAY
501.2 ABR
501.22 BOR
502.1 CRA
 
  • Fiction books have call numbers that contain letters, using the first 3 letters of an author's last name.  For example: The Giver by Lois Lowry - FIC LOW.
  • There are two sections for Everybody books - picture fiction books and non-fiction books.  The call numbers for both types of Everybody books are the same as fiction and non-fiction, except they will both start with "E". 
  • Beginner Chapter Books have call numbers like Fiction, except they begin with "BC".