How do I...?

• Use a Library Service, such as...
  

Ask Us! Ask a librarian service
Call Numbers (explanation & guide)
Check out/Return/Renew Books
Citation Guides
Computer Help (OIT User Support Services)
Copyright Assistance
Course Reserves
Interlibrary Loan - ILLiad
Photocopying
Presentation Room - sign up
Printing
RefWorks
Research Help
Scanning
Study Rooms - sign up
SUMMIT Requests - FAQ
Wireless Network - FAQ
Workshops, Tours, & Classes

• Find Library Materials, such as...
  

Articles
Audio/Visual (CD's, DVD's, VHS's, etc.)
Books
Databases
Government Information
Journals
Maps/GIS
Music Collection (musical scores, recordings, etc.)
Newspapers
Special Collections (including Archives)

Quick Contacts

Staff Directory (click here)

Circulation Desk, 1st Floor
503-725-4424

Reference Desk, 2nd Floor
503-725-5874

Interlibrary Loan, 2nd Floor
503-725-3879

 Call Numbers - Explanation & Guide

    Explanation 

The books and journals on our shelves follow the Library of Congress Classification Scheme, which is a system for determining appropriate call numbers so books and journals of the same subject end up together on our shelves.

Here is a link to the official Library of Congress Classification Outline.

There are simplified handouts of this scheme available at the Reference Desk on the 2nd floor, and with all the other handouts near the stairs on every floor. You can use these handouts to physically browse our shelves by subject, or by call number.

The Library Catalog, however, is designed as a tool to save you the leg work of physically browsing the stacks by yourself, and is particularly helpful with finding books that apply to the same subject, but for certain reasons are not shelved together.

  Guide - How to Read Call Numbers

Call numbers are read from left to right, letters before numbers, and the letters and numbers proceed according to the alphabet and standard mathematics*.
            *If you're used to the Dewey Decimal System, the numbers work                     differently here.

A typical call number looks something like this:

PR 4034.E53 A67 2004 (catalog view--on the computer screen)

 -or-

(label view--on the spine of the book)

PR stands for English Literature
4034.E53 A67 stands for specific information about the book and/or author
2004 is the year of publication for that edition

To find this book on our shelves, follow these steps:
    1. find out which floor the PR's are on (4th floor)
    2. follow the signs on the shelves to the PR 4000's
    3. find the PR 4034's
    4. find the PR 4034.E50's
    5. find the PR 4034.E53's
    6. find the PR 4034.E53 A's
    7. find the PR 4034.E53 A60's
    8. find the PR 4034.E53 A67's
    9. find the year