Tutorial: Call Numbers
Reading Call Numbers: Dewey Decimal Classification System
Books in the College of Education Library are organized using the Dewey Decimal Classification System. Under this system, every call number begins with three numbers, followed by various letters and/or number combinations. The numbers correspond to subject areas.
There are ten major subject groupings. Each of these is then divided and subdivided into more specific disciplines. For example,
000-099 Computers, information & general reference
100-199 Philosophy & psychology
200-299 Religion
300-399 Social sciences370 Education
371 School management; special education
372 Elementary education
373 Secondary education
374 Adult education
375 Curriculums
376 Education of women
377 Schools & religion
378 Higher education
400-499 Language
500-599 Science
600-699 Technology
700-799 Arts & recreation
800-899 Literature
900-999 History & geography
Read the call numbers line by line, for example, the call number for the book Future Thinking by Ann Sturgess is:
| 370.152 | Identifies that this book belongs to the category of education. |
| STU | Based on the last name of the author, Sturgess |
To find this book:
- Find the section where the call numbers begin 370 (this number is read as a whole number). Treat the rest as a decimal, e.g. 370.152 would come between 370.15 and 370.16.
- Within this section, work alphabetically to find S. Sometimes there are numbers after the letter. If this is the case, read these numbers as decimals.
