Let’s Learn About

Call Numbers

Remember, a call number is like the book’s address

in the library. It tells where the

book lives on the library shelf.

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

fictioneasy fictionnonfiction

Today we’re going to learn the recipe for making all three kinds of 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?F Chr

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

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?E Par

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.

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

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 has a different recipe 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)

first three letters of the famous person’s

last name

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

92Was

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

92 Aik

How are biography call numbers put in order?Since all biography call numbers have a 92, they are put in ABC order.

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

E Car

easy fiction

567.9 Ber

nonfiction

92 Lin

biography

E Mcd

easy fiction

F Gif

fiction

796 Bon

nonfiction

F Par

fiction

92 Edi

biography