Transcript: Understanding Call Numbers

Ryerson Research Minutes

This tutorial will teach you how to read a call number. A call number is found taped to the front or side of a library item to help you locate it on the shelf. This tutorial will show you how to read a call number using this book, "Nursing Management for the Elderly." Its catalog entry shows the call number in a straight line. Looking at the spine, here is the call number.

On the book, the call number is divided into four parts. The first part, "RC," will be found between "RB" and "RD." The next part, RC954 will be found between RC953 and RC955. The third part of the call number, the letter and number combination, is read as a decimal.

Any letter and number combinations should be read as decimals. Therefore, in decimals, 0.89 is greater than 0.884.

Our book is found between this book, "Nursing Care for the Older Adult," RC954.N884, and this book, "Nursing Older People," RC954.N893.

Finally, the last part of the call number is the year that the book was published. At this point, you've probably got the book in hand.

If you have any more questions, contact the librarian by phone, chat, email, or in person at the reference desk.