The key to Library resources
How to unlock it
What is a shelf number and why is it important?
 It is the number that appears on the spine of a book
 A shelf number can also be called a call number or class




number
It consists of 2 parts, namely the Dewey Decimal
Classification number and a suffix of 3 letters
The suffix are usually made up of the first 3 letters of an
author’s surname or the title
The shelf number can be seen as the “address” of the item
It is important because it groups together materials on the
same subject and on related subjects to make items easier
to find on the shelves
Dewey Decimal Classification : a history
 The Dewey Decimal
Classification System was
developed to bring order in
the Library and to promote
easy access
 Melville Dewey published
the first Dewey Decimal
Classification System
(DDC) in 1876
 Today we are using the
22nd edition of Dewey’s
classification
What is a DDC number?
 According to the DDC system each item in the Library is
given a DDC number
 The number given depends on the subject field that the item
covers
MAIN
OS
658
MAN
MAIN
OS
658.
022
SMA
MAIN
OS
658.
15
FIN
MAIN
OS
658.
8
MAR
MAIN
OS
659
ADV
DDC : divided into 10 main classes
000
100
200
300
400
Generalities
Philosophy &
Psychology
Religion
Social Science
Language
500
600
700
800
900
Natural Science &
Mathematics
Technology
Arts
Literature
Geography & History
Division of the 10 main classes
The 10 main classes each have ten divisions
Each of the divisions are further divided, which makes it
more specific
As the number expands it moves from the general to the
specific
DDC uses the decimal place to make the number even more
specific
Example
To find the classification number for personnel
management we need to start with the class for
Technology (Applied Sciences), 600’s
Therefore, the first number of the shelf number will be 6
The 10 divisions of the 600’s is:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
600
610
620
630
640
650
660
670
680
690
Technology
Medical Sciences
Engineering & Allied operations
Agriculture & Related technologies
Home economics & Family living
Management & Auxiliary services
Chemical engineering
Manufacturing
Manufacture for specific uses
Buildings
…example continue
Personnel management will be classified under
“Management and Auxiliary services” 650
Now we know the second number of the shelf number will by
5
Let’s see the divisions of the 650's to find the next number:
• 651
Office service
• 652
Processes of written communication
• 653
Shorthand
• 657
Accounting
• 658
General Management
• 659
Advertising & Public relations
…example still continuing
Business Management, including Personnel Management,
would be under 658
The 658’s are further divided by the use of decimals to
specify what type of management
600 – Technology (Applied Science)
650 – Management & Auxiliary Services
658 – Business Management
658.3 – Personnel Management