What Do Call Numbers Stand For?

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CLASSIFICATION SCHEDULES

Most of the materials in the Georgia State University Library are shelved by call number using the Library of Congress Classification System.

Call Numbers always start with a letter or letters, which represent different subject areas. Numbers that further specify the subject matter then follows the letter(s).

Following is a general outline of the LC Classification System. Not all sub-classes are included.

Link to Floor Plan detailing the shelving locations.

A General Works
Includes Encyclopedias, Almanacs, General Periodicals and Newspapers, General Indexes, etc.

B    Philosophy and Religion:
                        B-BD: Philosophy
                        BF: Psychology
                        BL-BX: Religion

C History: Auxiliary Sciences of History
CT: Biography

D    History: General and Old World
                        DA-DR: Europe and Russia
                        DS: Asia
                        DT: Africa
                        DU: Pacific Basin, Australia, New Zealand

E-F History: America
E: North America; General United States History
F: U.S. State and Local History; Canada, Mexico, Central and South America

G    Geography, Anthropology, Folklore, etc.
                        GN: Anthropology
                        GR: Folklore
                        GT: Manners and Customs, including Costume and Fashion, Festivals
                        GV: Recreation, including Sports, Dance, Outdoor Recreation, and Games

H Social Sciences
HB: Economics

HC: Economic History and Conditions
                        HD: Agricultural Economics, Industrial Economics, and Labor
                        HF: Business and Commerce
                        HG: Finance
                        HM: Sociology
                        HQ: Social Groups
                        HV: Social Welfare

J Political Science

K Law

KF: Law of the United States

L    Education
                        LB: Theory and Practice of Education
                        LC: Special Aspects of Education

M    Music
                        M: Music, including Scores
                        ML: Literature about Music
                        MT: Music Instruction and Study

N Fine Arts

P    Language and Literature:
                        P: Philology, Linguistics and Communication Studies
                        PA: Classical Languages and Literature
                        PN: Literature, Including Criticism, Genres, Performing Arts and Journalism
                        PQ: Romance Literatures
                        PR: English Literature
                        PS: American Literature

Q    Science
                        QA: Mathematics and Computer Science
                        QB: Astronomy
                        QC: Physics
                        QD: Chemistry and Biochemistry
                        QE: Geology
                        QH: General Biology, Ecology, Cytology
                        QK: Botany
                        QL: Zoology
                        QM: Human Anatomy
                        QP: Physiology
                        QR: Microbiology

R Medicine

S Agriculture

T    Technology
                        TK: Electrical Engineering, including Telecommunications and Nuclear Engineering
                        TX: Home Economics, including Nutrition and Hotel and Restaurant Management

U Military Science

V Naval Science

Z Bibliography and Library Science

Page updated on: August 20, 2004