Research 101 -- Finding -- How Libraries Are Organized: Subject

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Library Classification Systems

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Finding
Library Classification Systems: Subject	<<previous pg. \| next pg.>>

Within a library collection, materials are typically organized by subject. Librarians assign a call number based on a work's subject and sources are then shelved by that call number so that anyone browsing the shelves will find most of the titles on a subject together.

There are 2 main subject classification systems that translate a work's subject and author or title into a code (call number) that determines where it will be shelved.

The examples below illustrate how the two main subject classification systems, Library of Congress and Dewey Decimal, are used to assign call numbers for the book, Battle in Seattle by Janet Thomas, published in 2000, about the demonstrations during the WTO summit in Seattle.

Library of Congress: Used in most college, university, and research libraries because it handles large collections.

Dewey Decimal: Used in most public and school libraries because it is more effective for smaller collections.

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For more information about these classification systems, follow the links below.

Library of Congress

Dewey Decimal

Superintendent of Documents (SuDocs) (for US government documents)

Battle in Seattle by Janet Thomas