Call Number Guide

Under the Library of Congress classification system, all knowledge is divided into twenty-one basic classes, each identified by a single letter of the alphabet. Most of these alphabetical classes are further divided into more specific subclasses, identified by two-letter, or occasionally, three-letter combinations.

Every item in the library is assigned a call number according to its main subject. As a law library, most of our collection will have a call number beginning with K, which represents law. KF represents U.S. law.

LC call numbers are read from left to right and from top to bottom. The letters at the beginning of the call number are alphabetical. The numbers immediately following are in basic numerical order.

Here is an example of a call number in our library:

On the spine of a book, the call number would look like this:

KF
8840
.F72
1999

• Line 1 defines the general subject class and subclass
  • KF indicates the book covers U.S. law
• Line 2 defines a narrower subtopic within the specified class
  • 8840 means that it's more specifically about federal civil procedure
• Line 3 represents the author's name or title of the work
  • F72 = Friedenthal
• Line 4 is the publication year but could also be the copyright date
  • 1999 (not all call numbers include a year)

See the subsequent tabs in this guide to learn more about what subject areas are represented by which call number ranges.