Most of Wesleyan's books are shelved according to the Library of Congress Classification System. A series of letters and numbers is assigned to each publication according to its main subject. This is referred to as its Call Number. When you find the call number for a book, journal, or other publication from its record in the CTW Online Catalog, you can find it on a shelf somewhere in the stacks.

Library of Congress Classification System

LC call numbers look something like PN30 .E258 1995

• The first part of an LC call number consists of one or two letters, which are filed alphabetically: thus, PN is shelved after P and before Q.
• The second part is a number, treated as a whole number: so, PN 30 will come before PN 55.
• The third (and sometimes fourth) part is a letter followed by numbers; these numbers are read as decimals (whether or not there is a decimal point preceding them): so, PN 30 .E258 is shelved before PN 30 .E4 (i.e., .258 before .4).
• Often there will be a fourth or fifth part indicating the date of publication.

What good does knowing the call number do for me?

Since Library of Congress call numbers are arranged according to subject, it is helpful to know the call numbers appropriate for your topic. Once you know the call number for a subject, you can go to that area in reference or the book stacks and browse the shelves for resources on your topic.

To determine the appropriate call numbers for your topic or to find call number locations in Wesleyan's libraries, ask a librarian, consult the LC call number chart on the wall in the Olin Library reference stacks or the location guides at stairways, along the book shelves, etc,, or see the online guide to the Library of Congress Classification System.

Other classification systems

Some items in Wesleyan's libraries are shelved according to other classification systems, including:

• SuDocs - Government Documents
• Cutter