Borrow

This is an example of how to search for items in the Audio and Video Collection. Please see our tutorial about how to search the catalog, if you'd like more information.

1. From the Library Catalog search page, enter your keyword or phrase into the search box.
2. In the Search Scope drop-down, choose "Books & Media (UW-Superior)."
3. Click on the search button.
4. In the left "Refine My Results" sidebar, scroll down to the "Location" heading.
5. Select the "Audio and Video, 2nd Floor" option.
6. Your search results have now been refined to the Audio and Video Collection.

In the Library of Congress classification and call number system this library uses, letters of the alphabet represent large categories. Then, the following sets of numerals and other letters provide further subdivision groupings. What does this mean? When you are browsing:

• The first line is a letter and is in alphabetical order. Think about the alphabet (or sing it along with Elmo from Sesame Street) and follow it to your letter.
• The second line is a whole number or decimal in numerical order. If it is a decimal, take it one space at a time.
• Continue to follow each segment of the call number (letter than numeral). 

Example: Out of the Northwoods: The Many Lives of Paul Bunyan/ by Michael Edmonds. Call number GR105.37.P38 E35 2009  (Garden Level Books). Broken out, the call number is: 

GR

105 (.37)

P

38

E

35

2009

The Garden Level is the Basement. This call number begins with GR (Folklore).

There are three columns of shelves in the widest part of the basement, and walking the full length of a column is sometimes necessary (especially when getting used to the ordering).  So if one were to look for this book: 

• One could go to the basement and look at the shelf labels and browse until locating GR. It may or may not be labeled directly, so if there is not clear marking for the letters "GR" on a sign, know it falls between other letters, such as between GN (because N comes well before R) and GT (as T falls later in the alphabet than R). 
• Once in the GR section, the next step is to look for the "100s." (So not "1" or "10"; just like in math, 105.37 is not the same as 10.53 or 1.05). 
• On finding 105, scan for 105.37 while keeping an eye out for the 105 Ps
  • There are not many books on this shelf in this range, so it's a relatively quick find - still take a minute and try reading a little ahead and behind, taking stock of how the structure works. 
• On locating 105.37 P, next one would look for 38; then for E and 35.
• 2009 is the date of publication. 
• In this case, it is a single volume, but if there were multiple volumes, they would be indicated at the end with a "V" and a numeral

Check out Kent State University's animated call number tutorial for more examples! You don't have to take their quiz, but are welcome to test your knowledge, if you choose.