How To Locate a Book in the

Mountain View College Library

 

The Mountain View College Library uses the Library of Congress Classification System to arrange books on the shelves. Each book has a unique call number that begins with one, two, or three capital letters followed by numbers.

 

To locate a book for which you have the call number, the following types of order must be considered:

 

Alphabetical order

The first line of the call number is always alphabetical by one, two, or three letters:

P, PA, PB, PC, etc.

 

Numerical order

The second line of the call number is always numerical: 1, 2, 3, etc.

 

Decimal order

The third and forth lines of the call number are alphabetical and decimal:

.E37 is shelved before .E4; .Z8999 is shelved before .Z948

 

Work from the top line of the call number to the bottom line:

 

Example: A book by Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, has the call number PS 3562 .E353 T6336 1996

 

PS Alphabetical

3562 Numerical

.E37 Alphabetical, Decimal

Z948 Alphabetical, Decimal

1996 Date of Publication (optional)

 

Check the guide signs posted on the ends of each range of shelves in the Main Collection and notewhere the PS books are shelved, then PS 3562, then PS 3562 .E, then PS 3562 .E37, etc.

 

The Main Collection refers to the circulating books owned by Mountain View. The Main Collection begins on the first level of the library and continues on the second level.

 

Books in the Reference Collection , which are for library use only, have a call number preceded by “REF.” Reference materials are located on the first level of the library and are shelved separately from the Main Collection.

 

Books in the Ready Reference Collection , which are also for library use only, are located on the first level of the library behind the reference desk.  Please ask the librarian at the reference desk for assistance in obtaining these books.

 

McNaughton books are located around the staircase on the first level of the library.

These circulating books are shelved separately from the Main Collection and are arranged

alphabetically by author (the Library of Congress Classification System is not used).

 

If you cannot find the book you are looking for, please ask for assistance at the reference desk.