If you’re not familiar with the Yocum Library, and maybe even if you are, you may be wondering how the library’s books are organized. It can seem complicated at first, especially for those of us who are more familiar with the Dewey Decimal System of the public libraries.
The Yocum Library, like most research and college libraries, is organized by the (LCC) system. It’s called this because this is how the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. is organized.
You’ll first notice that, unlike the Dewey Decimal System, the LCC system is comprised of letters and numbers. This system was first developed by Herbert Putnam in 1897 before he became the Librarian of Congress. The system that Putnam developed replaced an older system that was first developed by Thomas Jefferson. Putnam created this newer system specifically for the Library of Congress.
The LCC system simply divides the subjects into categories; there is no rhyme or reason for how the system works. For example, while the subject of Music is listed in the M section, this is probably a case of coincidence. Education is listed in the L section; Medicine is listed in the R section, and so forth.
In addition, each letter is then divided further into different areas of a subject. For example, Fine Arts, which is in the N section, includes Architecture (NA) and Painting (ND). Because there is no logic in how the books are organized, the only way to understand the LCC system is simply to become familiar with what subjects are organized into what sections.
You can go to www.loc.gov (Library of Congress website) or simply Google “Library of Congress Classification System.” And, of course, you can always ask the library staff.
Here’s a hint to helping you search. If you are searching for a book within the computer catalog, and the call number does NOT include letters, the book is not available at the Yocum Library. A call number without letters is part of Dewey Decimal System, which means the book is available at one of the public libraries. (You can most likely request the item through interlibrary loan).
One other hint: Not all the letters are used in the LCC system. The letters I, O, W, X, and Y are not used. (There doesn’t seem to be a reason for this, but I’m sure Mr. Putnam had his own purpose for not using them!)
Happy Searching!
(source: www.wikipedia.org)
