Library Skills Tutorials

Tutorial 2: TOPCAT, the Library Catalogue

Call Numbers and Locations

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Call Numbers

A call number is a unique number assigned to an item in the library. Call numbers tell you where to find an item on the shelf.

Our library, like most university libraries, uses the Library of Congress Call Number Classification Scheme. LC Call Numbers use a combination of letters and numbers for each item.

Each call number begins with one or more letters, to represent the broad subject area. Following the letters are numbers, then decimal numbers to further subdivide. It's complicated, because it's very precise.

For example, the call number for the book The Philosophers of Greece is: B 171 .B78.
B	is the section for General Philosophy - read it alphabetically. For this book, find the "B" section in the library.
171	represents the "Ancient" time period - read it as a whole number within the B section.
.B78	specifies this particular book (the author's last name begins with "B") - read the letter alphabetically and the number as a decimal. (.78 comes before .9)
1964	If there's a year at the end it's the year of publication, and it's only important if there is more than one edition. Read this chronologically.

Government Publications have a separate call number system.
CA1	Canadian federal government documents	Example: CA1 PL13 - B433
CA2	Canadian provincial government documents	Examples: CA2ON CF - A55 CA2BC AG - 2004E46 CA2AL BD - 79F31

See the webpage: A Guide to the Government Publications Collection if you need more details.

Locations

TOPCAT provides the location of items in our library. Find location information at the bottom of the record, beside each copy of an item. Example:

Screen capture showing the location at the bottom of a TOPCAT record.

Bata Library Locations
1st Floor	Archives and Special Collections
2nd Floor	Reference, Pamphlets, Curriculum, Folios, Media (videos & DVDs), Microforms, Reserves, and Current Periodicals collections. (This is the floor where you enter the library through the main doors).
3rd Floor	Call numbers beginning with A to PR and the Indigenous Studies Reading Room.
4th Floor	Call numbers beginning with PS to ZA as well as the Government Publications (CA, US, UK), Maps/Air Photos/Atlases collection, and the Data and Image Lab.
There are signs posted throughout the library with these listings. The above item (B 171 .B78) is found on the 3rd floor.

A TOPCAT record lists a location for each item. Some of these locations are:

Stacks or Standard Shelving Location - the regular library shelves.
Internet, E-Book, E-Journal or Online items - only available online, by clicking the button.
Folio - a section on the 2nd floor for books too tall for the regular stacks.
Curriculum - classroom resources for Education students on the 2nd floor.
Storage means that this low-use item has been packed up and put away. It may still be available for you - ask at the Circulation Desk.

Also note that Trent University Library has two brances: Bata Library and Oshawa Campus. See the next page for details on library branches.

The next screen explains Library Branches.

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Last Modified: February 16, 2012
Maintained by , Thomas J. Bata Library.