1. Let’s learn about Call Numbers

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

3. Our library has many kinds of materials, so we have different kinds of call numbers, such as: Fiction Easy Nonfiction Reference Audiovisuals

4. Today we’re going to learn the formula for making different kinds of call numbers.

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

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

7. What would the fiction call number for the author, Matt Christopher look like? FIC Chr

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

9. So an easy reader call number for the author, Jan Brett would look like this: E Bre

10. What would the easy reader call number for the author, Peggy Parish look like? E Par

11. Another kind of Fiction is the Story Collection (this is a shelf of short stories at the end of the fiction section) SC Kea

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

13. Non-fiction call numbers are made up of two parts: Numbers (for the subject) and the first three letters in the author’s last name.

14. So a non-fiction call number for a mammal book by Jane Mosley would look like this: 599 Mos

15. What would the non-fiction call number for a dinosaur book by the author, Marc Simont look like? 567.9 Sim

16. A reference book call number is made up of three parts: REF (for reference) ### (numbers for the subject) and the first three letters of the author’s last name.

17. So a reference call number for a dictionary by Merriam Webster would look like this: REF 423 Web

18. What would the reference call number for the World Book Encyclopedia look like? REF 031 Wor

19. How do we put reference call numbers in order? Think….reference call numbers have three rows, REF, numbers and letters, so.. Reference call numbers are put in number order first, then in ABC order.

20. What about Paperback books? Paperbacks only have a letter for the author on the spine. For example, a Goosebumps book by R. L. Stine would have a great big S as its call number!

21. Our library has lots of Audiovisuals, such as videos, study prints, kits, CDs, and cassettes. Each one uses a Nonfiction call number with a top line that tells what kind of AV it is, such as this one for a video: VC #22 398.2 Whe

22. Let’s see if you can tell what kind of library material goes with each call number !

23. 796 Bon Non-fiction

24. E Car Easy

25. KIT #332 567.9 Ber Audiovisual (this one’s a kit)

26. FIC Low Fiction

27. REF 912 Ste Reference

28. Call Numbers are important! They are a guide to what kind of book or media the item is. They tell which shelf the item is supposed to be on. They keep books and AV in order so that they can be found quickly. They organize books by subject or author so that all the same types can be shelved together.