Welcome to WSU Libraries! In this guide, we’ll unlock the mysteries of call numbers and location prefixes. Knowing these helps you quickly locate and access your desired books.
Call Numbers
Books and material are arranged on our shelves according to the Library of Congress (LC) classification system. These call numbers uniquely identify and organize items near other material on the same or similar subjects. Consider the call number: LB2395 C65 1991.
♦ LB defines the subject area. The call letters are typically arranged in alphabetical (字母的) order, starting from A and continuing through the alphabet. Knowing the letter(s) for your subject area gives you a place to start browsing the shelves. For example: A — General works; B — Philosophy, Psychology, Religion; D — world History; G — Geography; H— social sciences; J — Political science; K — Law; L— Education; M — Music; N — Arts; P— Language and Literature; Q — science. For more, click here.
♦ 2395 is the classification number, which further distinguishes the subject matter. Read as a whole number: 1, 2, 3, 45, 100, 2430.
♦ C65 is the Cutter number and usually represents the author’s last name. Find C, then 65. Read the number as a decimal (小数).
♦ 1991 is the year of publication.
Location Prefixes
Some call numbers have a location prefix. Location prefixes mean that the book or material is shelved in a special place, and may have loan restrictions. WSU uses the following prefixes:
| A．An Introduction to Modern Art. | B．The ABC of Computer science. |
| C．The Recycling of waste oils. | D．A short History of France. |
| A．C78. | B．S53. | C．W67. | D．L59. |
| A．0n the 2nd or 4th floor of the library. |
| B．In the Reference Area on the 1st floor. |
| C．In the Circulation Area on the 1st floor. |
| D．At the Learning Resources Center on the 2nd floor. |
