C ALL N UMBERS IN THE L IBRARY ElementaryLibrarian.com
W HAT ARE C ALL N UMBERS ? A Call Number is like the books address in the library – its where it lives! Think of the library as a school bus and the books as students who need to be picked up. If the bus driver doesnt have any addresses, how will he or she find the students? Discuss this with a partner. You can think of the library in the same way. What would happen if we put the books just anywhere on the shelves? Discuss.
T HE S ECTIONS OF OUR L IBRARY Easy These are picture books for everyone to check out. Call numbers begin with E, followed by the 1 st letter of the authors last name. Examples: EAEA EMEM EVEV
T HE S ECTIONS OF OUR L IBRARY Fiction These are chapter books for grades 3-5. There will be a new section for easy chapter books soon! Call numbers begin with Fic, followed by the 1 st letter of the authors last name, or the 1 st three letters in some cases. Examples: Fic Kin Fic Row Fic W
T HE S ECTIONS OF OUR L IBRARY Nonfiction These books are organized by the Dewey Decimal System. Call numbers range from 000 to 999, followed by the 1 st three letters of the authors last name. Examples: And McC Bis
W HY IS IT I MPORTANT TO K EEP L IBRARY B OOKS IN O RDER ?
D ISCUSS W ITH Y OUR T ABLE : Why is it so important to use shelf markers? Is it OK to put books on just any shelf in the library? How can call numbers help me find books in the library? Why cant I find books Im looking for sometimes? How can I help keep the library in order?
T HIS M ONTH S S TATIONS : 3 rd Grade: ABC Order Review Fiction Call Numbers activity Book shelving practice 4 th Grade: Fiction Call Numbers activity Nonfiction Call Numbers activity Book shelving practice 5 th Grade: Dictionary Review Call Numbers Review Evaluating Websites activity