1. A shelving module for OHSU Library Students
Making sense of NLM
A shelving module for OHSU Library Students

2. Shelving Basics: The difference between NLM and LC
How to approach shelving
Test your knowledge w/simple quizzes
Shelving challenges & solutions
Difference between the National Library of Medicine shelving system and Library of Congress system
Simple quizzes that will allow you to test your knowledge

3. What is the difference between the Library
What is NLM?
It stands for the National Library of Medicine
classification system for shelving.
What is the difference between the Library
of Congress (LC) system and NLM?
The NLM system is patterned after LC and the call numbers
look very similar except for the use of certain starting
letters that LC doesn’t use (QS-QZ and W-WZ)

4. Mastering the art of shelving NLM call numbers
Let’s begin!

5. Hint: Read the call number one row at a time!
Row 1 is referred to as the Classification number Step 1: Think Alphabetically
QS78
before
QT31

6. Row 1 Step 2: Think of the whole number
QT4 13
.S132
before
QT11 12
.S132
and of the mixed decimal
QT2.09 78
before
QT20.1 13
.S132

7. Test your knowledge!
Question: Looking at the first row of the following call numbers,
select the correct order by clicking on A, B, or C.
A 1, 2, 4, 3
B 2, 4, 3, 1
C 2, 1, 4, 3
WY11.1
A49
2010c.1
WY2
A499
2010
WY2.11
A153
2009
WY2.1 A6
2008 1 2 3 4

8. Sorry!
Click
HERE
to try again

9. Correct!
Please click anywhere to continue

10. Let’s take a closer look at
the 1st row!
Challenge:
Which comes first after the decimal point, letters or numbers?
FACT: Past the decimal point, Letters take precedence over numbers
WF105.A11
WF105.AA1 WF 1 2 3

11. First row...
Challenge:
Are the numbers after the decimal point considered fractions or whole numbers?
FACT: Numbers after the decimal point are considered fractions
.5 is one half, not “five” and is greater
than .25 which is one quarter, not “twenty-five”

12. When books have the same classification number
Examine Row 2 referred to as the Cutter number
Hint: Assume the 2nd row is after the decimal point and Treat as a fraction
WY150
H114
before
WY150 M5
before
WY150
M89

13. A cutter number may be further defined by letters
Challenge:
A cutter number may be further defined by letters
WM30
N23h
WM30
N23k
Think alphabetically
before

14. Row 3 and 4 help further define the book by
Year, Volume, or Copy number
WY101
R423
1986
WY101
R423
1990
WY101
R423
1995
v.1
WY101
R423
1995
v.2
Hint: If there is no copy number, presume it is copy 1
WY18
J595
1994
WY18
J595
1994
c.2

15. Now you try!
Question #1 : Select the correct order of the following call numbers
by clicking on A, B, or C.
A 2, 3, 4, 2
B 4, 1, 3, 2
C 3, 2, 4, 1
QS39
M822e
2002
c.2
QS4
A52a
2000
QS4
A159a
2000
QS39
M822e
2002 1 2 3 4

16. Sorry! Click HERE to try again Hint: Think of the WHOLE number when
considering the first row only.

17. Correct!
Please click anywhere to continue

18. Congratulations! for completing this training module and for proving your Excellent Shelving Skills