Let’s Learn About Call Numbers

Remember, a call number is like the book’s address in the library Remember, a call number is like the book’s address in the library. It tells where the book lives on the library shelf.

fiction easy fiction nonfiction Our library has three kinds of books, so we have three kinds of call numbers: fiction easy fiction nonfiction

Today we’re going to learn the recipe for making all three kinds of call numbers.

first three letters in the author’s last name A fiction call number is made up of two parts: FIC (for fiction) first three letters in the author’s last name

So a fiction call number for the author, Beverly Cleary would look like this: FIC CLE

What would the fiction call number for the author, Matt Christopher look like? FIC CHR

An easy fiction call number is made up of two parts: E (for easy fiction) first three letters in the author’s last name

So an easy fiction call number for the author, Jan Brett would look like this: E BRE

What would the easy fiction call number for the author, Peggy Parish look like? E PAR

How do we put fiction and easy fiction call numbers in order? Think……How can we put letters in order? That’s right, fiction and easy fiction call numbers are in ABC order.

Numbers (for the subject) Nonfiction call numbers are made up of two parts: Numbers (for the subject) first three letters in the author’s last name

So a nonfiction call number for a mammal book by Jane Mosley would look like this:

How do we put nonfiction call numbers in order? Think...nonfiction call numbers have numbers and letters, so.. Nonfiction call numbers are put in number order first, then in ABC order.

One kind of nonfiction book has a different recipe from the rest. biography

A book about the life of a famous person. What is a biography? A book about the life of a famous person. Biography call numbers have their own special recipe.

first three letters of the famous person’s last name Biography call numbers are made up of two parts. B (biography) first three letters of the famous person’s last name

So the call number for a biography about George Washington would look like this:

What would the call number for a biography about Troy Aikman look like? B AIK

How are biography call numbers put in order? Since all biography call numbers have a B, they are put in ABC order by subject last name.

Let’s see if you can tell what kind of book goes with each call number !!

E CAR easy fiction

567.9 BER nonfiction

B LIN biography

E MCD easy fiction

FIC GIF fiction

796 BON nonfiction

FIC PAR fiction

B EDI biography

Some other Call Numbers you might see… GN= Graphic Novels REF= Reference PW= Playaways PB before a Call Number means you’re looking for a Paperback book– but that doesn’t change WHERE you look for the book!