Film Studies Research Guide

IUCAT is Indiana University's online library catalog. Search it to find items held by the IU Libraries statewide, including books, government publications, journals, and other types of material.

What exactly is a call number anyway?

A call number is the unique number given to each book in the library. Call numbers are like addresses, they tell you where a book will be located in the library.

Why should I know how to read one?

If you understand how to read a call number, it will be a lot easier for you to find books in the library.

What does a call number look like?

This library uses LC call numbers (LC stands for Library of Congress), which use a combination of letters and numbers. The same exact call number can be written 2 different ways:

A call number that you find in IUCAT (the online library catalog) will look like this: CT105 .K55 1981

And that same call number will look like this on the spine of the book:

CT

105

.K55

1981  

So, here's how you read a call number on the spine of a book:

• CT        --Read it alphabetically (A, B, C, CT, D, E, F, G, H, HA, HQ, etc.)
• 105       --Read it numerically (1, 10, 100, 100.5, 105, 1005.10, etc.)
• .K55     --Read alphabetically and then decimally (.A23, .A233, .A33, .B4555, .B50, etc.)
• 1981     --The final line is a date.  

And here is how this book would be placed on the shelf:

So now that I know how to read a call number, how do I use it to find books in the library?

1. When you find a book that looks interesting in IUCAT, make sure you write down the entire call number.
2. Check the location code to find out in what library the book will be (IUCAT contains books from all IU libraries).
3. Look at the first letter(s) of the call number. Use this to figure out what part of the library to go to. (Books starting with A-N are on the 3rd floor of University Library, P-Z are on the 4th floor.)
4. Once you are on the correct floor, look for labels at the end of each set of bookshelves. These will tell you what call numbers can be found on those shelves.
5. Find the book on the shelf and take it to the Service & Information Desk (2nd Floor) to check it out using your Crimson Card.

The databases below are split between multidisciplinary and subject-specific lists. There are a few listed in the subject-specific ones that have broad coverage of the Arts & Humanities, like JSTOR, the MLA International Bibliography, and Project Muse. The multidisciplinary databases also include material from beyond the Arts & Humanities. Hover over the "i" next to each to learn more, or ask your librarian.

Multidisciplinary Databases

Subject-Specific Databases