Buzz
If you are planning to volunteer or apply for a job at a library, you will need to know how to organize library bookshelves. All books in every library are arranged according to the Dewey Decimal System or the Library of Congress Classification System (used in the U.S.). While many university or specialized libraries use the Library of Congress Classification System, most public libraries, high schools, and elementary schools organize their bookshelves using the Dewey Decimal System.
Steps
Organize Bookshelves Using the Dewey Decimal System
Understand the Dewey Decimal System. Learning this system is not difficult because it is logically organized and based on a decimal structure. Essentially, each category of books is assigned a classification number (with full numbers, such as 800) and decimal numbers (digits to the right of the decimal point). These are the numbers you see on the spine of each library book, and they are called call numbers. The system consists of 10 main classes, which are further divided into 10 divisions, and each division includes 10 sections. The 10 main classes of the Dewey Decimal System are:
- 000 - Generalities, Computer Science, and Information
- 100 - Philosophy and Psychology
- 200 - Religion
- 300 - Social Sciences
- 400 - Language
- 500 - Natural Sciences
- 600 - Technology and Applied Sciences
- 700 - Arts and Recreation
- 800 - Literature
- 900 - Geography and History
Remember that the purpose of call numbers is to group books of the same topic together, and they consist of at least two parts: The class number (ranging from 000 to 900) and the decimal numbers. The class number is the whole number, and the decimal numbers are placed after the decimal point.
Understand the classification. Here is a brief example of how you might see or arrange a book about American fiction written between 1861 and 1900. (The broad classification for literature is '800').
- Look at the second digit after the '8'. The number '1' indicates that the book is classified as 'General American Literature'. The second digit after the '8' specifies the division; 811 is American poetry, 812 is American drama, 813 is American fiction, 814 is American essays...
- Look at the first digit after the decimal point; this number represents a more specific classification. Thus, a book with the call number '813.4' tells you that it is American fiction written between 1861 and 1900. Clearly, the more digits there are, the more specific the topic becomes.
How to Organize Books Using the Library of Congress Classification System
Learn the 20 categories used by the Library of Congress to divide fields of knowledge. Each category corresponds to a letter of the alphabet.
- A - General Works
- B - Philosophy, Religion, Psychology
- C - History (Civil)
- D - History (Except America)
- E - American History
- F - Local American History, Latin American History
- G - Geography and Anthropology
- H - Social Sciences
- J - Political Science
- K - Law
- M - Music
- N - Fine Arts
- P - Language and Linguistics
- Q - Science and Mathematics
- R - Medicine
- S - Agriculture
- T - Technology
- U - Military Science
- V - Naval Science
- Z - Bibliography and Library Science
Read more about how each category is further divided into subcategories by combining letters and numbers. As with the Dewey Decimal System, the more numbers and letters in the call number, the more detailed the classification—and the easier it is to find or organize books. The LC call number 'PS3537 A426 C3 1951' identifies 'The Catcher in the Rye' by J. D. Salinger, published in 1951 (the last four digits in the call number).
Tips
- Call numbers in both systems are always read from left to right and top to bottom.
- All library books, regardless of the classification system used, are arranged on shelves from top to bottom and left to right.
Warnings
- New staff or library volunteers are not expected to know the entire Dewey Decimal or Library of Congress classification systems. However, make sure you at least know the 10 main classes and the first 10 subdivisions of each class.
