Let’s Learn About

Call Numbers

Our library has six kinds of books, so we have six kinds of call numbers:

fiction, easy fictionnonfiction, easy

nonfictionbiography, easy biography

Today we’re going to learn about making call numbers.

A fiction call number is made up of two parts:

F (for fiction)

first three letters in the author’s last

name

So a fiction call number for the author, Beverly Cleary would look like this:

F Cle

What would the fiction call number for the author, Matt Christopher look like?

An easy fiction call number is made up of two parts:E (for easy fiction or the

everybody section since these books can be read by all)

first three letters in the author’s last name

So an easy fiction call number for the author, Jan Brett would look like this:

E Bre

What would the easy fiction call number for the author, Peggy Parish look like?

How do we put fiction and easy fiction call numbers in order?Think……How can we put letters in

order?

That’s right, fiction and easy fiction call numbers are in ABC order by the authors last name.

Let’s see if you can tell what kind of book goes with each call number !!

E Car

easy fiction

F Gif

fiction

F Par

fiction

E Mcd

easy fiction

Lets see if you can put the Easy fiction books in order by their call number.

ELAR

ESOO

ELEE

ETRI

ESOO

ELEE

ELAR

ETRI

Lets see if you can put the fiction books in order by their call number.

F RAW

FSRA

FSAT

FSCR

FSCR

FSAT

F RAW

FSRA

Nonfiction call numbers are made up of two parts:

Numbers (for the subject)

first three letters in the author’s last name

So a nonfiction call number for a mammal book by Jane Mosley would look like this:599 Mos

Now how would a nonfiction call number look if it were in the everybody section? Think...nonfiction call numbers have numbers and letters, and all the books in the everybody section start with what letter?

So a nonfiction call number in the Everybody section for a mammal book by Robert Morris would look like ……

How do we put nonfiction call numbers in order?

Think...nonfiction call numbers have numbers and letters, so..

Nonfiction call numbers are put in number order first, then in ABC order.

One kind of nonfiction book looks different from the rest.

biography

What is a biography?

A book about the life of a famous person.

Biography call numbers have their own special recipe.

Biography call numbers are made up of two parts.92 (the number for biography, but

our library and many Elementary libraries use a letter B)

and the

first three letters of the famous person’s

last name

So the call number for a biography about George Washington would look like this:

BWas

What would the call number for a biography about Troy Aikman look like?

Now if you were looking for a biography about Thomas Edison in the Everybody section, what would the call number be.

Remember, all books in the

Everybody section have this letter.

How are biography call numbers put in order?Since all biography call numbers have a B, they are put in ABC order by who the book is about not by the Authors last name.

567.9 Ber

nonfiction

B Lin

biography

E

796

Bon

easy nonfiction

E

B

Edi

easy biography