How do I find a book I need in the Library?
The Library uses the Dewey Decimal Classification scheme (Dewey for short) to arrange books and other resources on the shelves so you can locate them easily. We're going to show you how to use Dewey to find a book at any Library site.
You start by looking for your item on Library Search. This works in a similar way to any other online search engine. You'll need to enter whatever information you have about the item you are looking for e.g. title, author or even subject area. You can choose between a simple search (which will bring back a large range of results) or an advanced search (which will bring back more precise results but will require you to enter more precise information to start with).
Once you've performed a search you'll see something like this midway down the page:
Note how it reads: "Location: Main Library Blue Area Floor 2 370.193 B174". The number 370.193 B174 is the bit we’re interested in.
What do these numbers next to the book's location mean?
The numbers are a "shelfmark" (on Library Search, this is the number next to the book's location). You’ll find one of these on every book in the Library - a lot of customers find this confusing at first but if you break down the information into three sections, it's easier to understand.
- The numbers in front of the decimal point indicate the subject area (in this case 370). Look for this number first.
- Next, look for the number after the decimal point (in this case 193). You should do this digit-by-digit, not as a whole number.
In this example, look first for .1 then for .19 and then .193. - Now look for the letter(s) and number(s). Letters are shelved alphabetically, numbers are shelved in order. Letters are usually the initial letter(s) of the author's name (in this case, Burbules).
How do I find it on the shelves?
- Look for the signs at the end of each row: they show the range of shelfmarks on those shelves.
- Rows run from left-to-right, and books are shelved from left-to-right.
My book has letters before the number; what does that mean?
- Sometimes, you will see extra letters before the shelfmark. This shows that a book is part of a collection within the Library. For example: N.E. 279.32/R29 is part of the Near Eastern collection.
- Find the collection first, before looking for the number.
I'm still struggling; where can I ask for help?
- Most importantly, if you are having difficulty locating a book, or have any other questions please just speak to a member of staff who will be happy to assist you. Alternatively, contact us via Library Help.