• Start your search in the yellow search box on the library home page OR go straight to OneSearch
• Once you have your search results (example below), move on to step 2

When you view a record (a listing) for a print book in our OneSearch system, the collection name will appear below the title (look for the phrase “Available at ____” in green text just before the collection name).

The table below lists each collection name you might encounter and a sample record for each with yellow highlighting showing the collection name.

In the listing (the record) for the book, note the call number that follows the collection name for the book. If the location is “Newman Library Stacks,” use the first letter of the call number to determine the floor on which the book is shelved.

sample listing in OneSearch for a book in the “Newman Library Stacks” that has a call number of “ZA4230 .N63 2018.”

Use the chart below to determine what floor the book is on based on the book’s call number. This chart only applies to books in the “Newman Library Stacks” collection, which is the largest collection in our library.

Next, you’ll need to find the book among others on a shelf that have call numbers that are very similar to one you need. You’ll need to read the call numbers that appear on the spines of books to find the right location:

Books are arranged on the shelves by their call numbers on a line-by-line basis.

1. Alphabetically by the first line, then…            
2. Numerically by the second line, then…
3. First alphabetically, then numerically by the third line. Note that the numbers on line three are treated as decimals, so that .C263 comes between .C26 and .C27.
4. If there is a fourth line before the year of publication, it is sorted first alphabetically and then numerically (these numbers are also treated as decimals, so E45 comes between E4 and E5)
5. If a call number is identical in all respects except for year of publication, then the books are placed in chronological order by the year of publication.

Collections

• Newman Library Reserve (ask at the circulation desk)
• Newman Library Reference (to the left of the spiral staircase)

Interactive Map

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Collections

• Newman Library Stacks (call numbers beginning with A through E)
• Newman Library Periodicals

Interactive Map

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Collections

• Newman Library Stacks (call numbers beginning with F through N)
• Newman Library TAEF Collection (ask at the circulution desk on the 2nd floor)

Interactive Map

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Collections

• Newman Library Stacks (call numbers beginning with P through Z)
• Newman Library Oversize Collection (west side of the 5th floor)
• Newman Library Archives (contact the Archives Division first)

Interactive Map

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• Each subject is assigned a one-, two-, or three-letter code.
• The letters do not necessarily stand for the first letter of the subject they represent. For instance, political science is letter J, and art is letter N.
• This system is called the Library of Congress Classification System.

What is a call number?

Each book has a call number designating both its subject and its place on the shelf. The call number usually has four parts:

• one or two letters (sometimes three) for the broad subject area
• a number that is a further subdivision of the general subject
• a letter and number code for the author’s name
• a date of publication

Example