Call# training

B R E A K I N G T H E C O D EC A L L # T R A I N I N G

O U T L I N E

• What is a call#?

• How do I find a call#?

• How do I find the book?

• What if I need help?

• Let's try it.

W H AT I S A C A L L # ?

• 21 Letters that represent subjects/fields

• H=Social Sciences

• L=Education

• P=Language & Literature


• 21 Classes break into subclasses:

• N: Art breaks into:

• NA: Architecture;

• NB: Sculpture;

• ND: Painting


• 1st line: those letters we just talked about

• 2nd line: Numbers

• 3rd line: Cutter "Number" (acts like a decimal)

T R I V I A Q U E S T I O N

Where did I, O, W, X, Y go??

T R I V I A A N S W E R *

• O & I confused with numbers 0 and 1• No historical records re: why W, X, and Y

were left vacant after 1899• X and YA used internally by Special

Collection• W used by the National Library of Medicine

*According to the Library of Congress Cataloging Policy and Support Office (CPSO)

H O W D O I F I N D A C A L L # ?

H O W D O I F I N D A C A L L # ?

Write down the ENTIRE CALL#!


Can you break this code: "1600 Pennsylvania Ave."?

T R I V I A A N S W E R

– J I M

“Write down the ENTIRE !@#$%^&* CALL#!”

H O W D O I F I N D T H E B O O K ?

• Use the 1st letter of the call# to find the floor

• Go to the floor & read labels on shelves

• If it's not right there, look around a bit

H O W D O I F I N D T H E B O O K ?

• Alphabetical by 1st letter, then 2nd letter

• Then by number

• Then by cutter "number"


On which floor would a book with this call# be found? W457

.G9 2016

T R I V I A A N S W E R

We're not the National Library of Medicine!

W H AT I F I N E E D H E L P ?

• Ask your supervisor

• Ask a student supervisor

• Ask a librarian at the Research Help Desk

• Text a librarian 607-341-7883

* If they have a subject, refer them to Research Help

H E L P I N G A C U S T O M E R

• If they have a book title, demonstrate finding call#, DON'T JUST DO IT FOR THEM*

• Give them the bookmark & point out text help #

• "Show, don't tell."

L E T ' S T R Y I T !

• Break into 2 teams

• Get books as quickly as you can

* Student supers only provide "moral support" unless absolutely necessary