The Dewey Decimal classification system groups together books on similar subjects by call numbers.

There are 10 Dewey Decimal call number classifications.

• 000 - Computer Science, Information, & General Works
• 100 - Philosophy & Psychology    
• 200 - Religion    
• 300 - Social Sciences    
• 400 - Language
• 500 - Science
• 600 - Technology
• 700 - Arts & Recreation
• 800 - Literature
• 900 - History & Geography

The 700's are broken down as follows:

• 700 - General
• 710 - Landscaping & Gardens
• 720 - Architecture
• 730 - Sculpture, ceramics, metalwork
• 740 - Drawing, comics, illustration, graphic design, fashion, textiles, interior design, glass
• 750 - Painting
• 760 - Printmaking
• 770 - Photography, computer art
• 780 - Music
• 790 - Movies & TV, animation, games, dance

All parts of a call number are important! 

Make sure you write down the whole number!

Let's dissect this call number: 741.64 A5, H899s  

• 741: The first three numbers of a Dewey Decimal call number indicates the general subject of the book.

• .64: Numbers following the first 3 numbers and the decimal point make things more specific.
  • 741 Drawing & drawings 
    • 741.6 Graphic design and illustration 
      • 741.64  Book illustration

• A5: In the 700 section you might see an A with a number right after it. This is a system unique to our library. It designates time.

• H899s: The Cutter Number indicates the author or title of the book. Why? It's a librarian thing.

There may be some additional information attached to a call number.

For example: Q 728.0942 L346i, 1904 v.1 

• Q means it’s in Special Collections
• 1904 is the year it was published
• v.1 tells you which volume

There’s also:

• DVD for DVDs
• Blu-Ray for Blu-Rays
• POP for Pop-up Books

So how do you find books on the shelves?

Let’s use 741.64 A5, H899s  Steel-engraved Book Illustration in England by Basil Hunnisett as an example.

The call # will be on the spine of the item.  

Break the number down from left to right in chunks: 741 . 64  A5,  H899  s

• Look for the 741 section
• Then look for .64
• Then look for A5
• After you find 741.64 A5, look for Cutter #s that start with H
• Then find H899
• If there are several books by that author, they will be filed by title, this case, s.

DVDs, 'zines, magazines, children's books, Special Collections, pop-up books, and oversize books have special locations in the library. 

REMEMBER! If you can't find an item on the shelf, ask a staff member to help!