Critical Thinking and Information Literacy Across the Curriculum

Critical Thinking & Information Literacy
Across the Curriculum

Worksheet: ESL Level 3/4
Classification Systems
N.H./Winter 2003

Goal: To be able to find books in the library by subject.

Libraries organize books by subject. Books on the same subject are located together, so it is easy to find books to read.

Libraries use different systems to organize books. This library uses letters to organize books. Look for these letters in the book’s call number.

Sample Call Numbers

P = Language and Literature
PE = English Language
PL = Asian Language

is the main subject
is the subdivision of main subject
is the subdivision of main subject

**Main subjects used in the BCC library**
A: General works	N: Fine Arts
B: Philosophy, Psychology, Religion	P: Language and Literature
C-F: History	Q: Science, Computers
G: Geography, Anthropology	R: Medicine
H: Social Science	S: Agriculture
J: Political Science	T: Technology, Computers
K: Law	U: Military Science
L: Education	V: Naval Science
M: Music	Z: Library Science, Bibliography

Look at the chart above. Write down the letter of the main subject where you would find the following books:

I have to write a paper for a Religion class. I need to find information on Islam. Where should I look?

I want to find information on colleges and universities. Where should I look?

I have to write a history paper on America. Where should I look?

Vocabulary:
Call number: Letters and numbers given to library materials which groups items together by subject. Call numbers are located on the spine of a book.
Classification System: A system for organizing library materials by subject.

Library Media Center
3000 Landerholm Circle S.E.
Bellevue, Washington 98007-6484

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provided complete acknowledgement is included.

Updated September 12, 2003