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Finding Books on the Shelf

University Libraries Locations and Classification Systems

The location and call number are listed below the title and publication information.

Location information and call number is listed in the Discover search results below the title, author, and publication information.

Materials in the University Libraries may be in one of the following classification systems:

  • Library of Congress: call number begins with a letter
  • Dewey Decimal System: call number begins with a number

Bizzell Memorial Library Stacks

Library of Congress Classification
 

A - D LL1 East
E - G M
H 2 East
J - PN 3 West
PQ - QA 3 East
QB - R 4 West
RA - Z 4 East

Dewey Decimal Classification
 

000 - 331.8 Deck 1
331.8805 - 575.1 G22 hu Deck 4
575.1 G22 hum - 999 Deck 5
Biographies Deck 5

Separate Collections in Bizzell


Abstracts and Indexes M
Atlases M
Bass Business History Collection 5
Children's Collection 3 West
Current Periodicals 4 West
History of Science 5
Microform 4 East
New Books Zarrow Reading Room - M
Nichols Collection 5
OU Theses and Dissertations Peggy V. Helmerich Great Reading Room - Deck 4
Reference M
Yearbooks North of Exhibit area - M

Reading Library of Congress Call Numbers

Books in the Bizzell Memorial Library will have a call number sticker on the spine or front cover.

Books in Call Number order based on the first line.

First look at the top line. In the Library of Congress system, the first line will be 1-3 letters long. Items are shelved in alphabetical order by these letters. Use the chart above to determine where the item is shelved in the library.

Next, look at the second line. This line will contain a whole number or a whole number with a decimal component. Items with the same first line are shelved numerically by this line.

Sometimes, Line 1 and Line 2 will both appear on the same line.

Books in Call Number order based on the second line
Books in Call Number order based on the third line

Next, the third part consists of a single letter and then a sequence of numbers. Items are shelved alphabetically and then numerically based on this line. This line is always read as if it were preceded by a decimal.

The final lines of a call number may include the date of publication, volume number, issue number, or other annotation.

Books in Call Number order based on the fourth line.

Additional Tips:

  • Each bookshelf in the stacks will have signs indicating their contents.
  • Look for student workers wearing blue lanyards roving around Bizzell to get immediate assistance.

Reading Dewey Decimal Call Numbers

Books shelved in Dewey Decimal System

The first line of a Dewey Decimal Call number will be a whole number, potentially with a decimal component. Items are shelved numerically. Use the chart above to determine where the item is shelved in the library.

The second line will be a letter and a sequence of numbers. This line is always treated as if it were preceded by a decimal.

Books shelved in Dewey Decimal System
Books with Dewey Decimal call numbers

The third line may be another letter followed by a sequence of numbers, the date of publication, volume number, issue number, or other annotation.

Additional Tips:

  • Access to the Decks are available on Lower Level I, Main Floor, and 3rd Floor. Elevator access is available behind the Zarrow Lounge on the Main Floor.
  • Each bookshelf in the stacks will have signs indicating their contents.
  • Look for student workers wearing blue lanyards roving around Bizzell to get immediate assistance.

Children's Books

The Children’s Collection is located in 3rd Floor West and is divided into 4 sections: picture books and fiction for early readers, fiction for readers beyond grade 3 or age 8, non-fiction and anthologies, and biographies. 

Children's books with call number stickers
  • Picture books and fiction for early readers have call numbers that begin with jE followed by the first 3 letters of the author’s name.
  • Fiction for readers beyond grade 3 or age 8 and young adult fiction have call numbers that begin with jF followed by 3 letters of the author’s name.
  • Non-fiction and anthologies have call numbers that follow the Dewey Decimal System preceded by j and ending with the first 3 letters of the author’s name.
  • Biographies begin with jB and are in alphabetical order by their subject's last name.

Other Locations and Services in the Library